TO TAKE PAUSE is sometimes necessary, as in a recent road encounter in the southeastern Minnesota community of Kasson. Two Canadian geese hurriedly crossed a downtown street, their long legs stretching, necks craning, wings lifting in flight.
They understood the danger of approaching vehicles. And we, in our vehicles, understood the need to stop and allow them to go safely on their way.
This marked, in some ways, a sweet moment in time when all of us on that roadway paused in our journeys to respect these geese, who were really at our mercy.
It felt good to be in community on this mid-March morning without thought of differences or division, but rather in communal understanding that we all needed to do what was right. Sometimes that’s all it takes to realize that we truly can work together for the common good, this time for the common good of those birds. And I suppose for us, too, as I doubt anyone wanted a goose in their radiator.
There are lessons to be learned in everyday life. Lessons in patience and understanding and cooperation. On this winter morning in Minnesota, two geese taught all of us to slow down, to work together, to recognize that little moments matter in life as much as the big moments. The lives of those geese mattered enough for all of us to stop and that is a lesson we can take with us into our communities, our country, our world.
THOUGHTS? Any similar stories to share of an everyday moment like this with lessons learned?
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I need lessons in patience and understanding. I enjoy finding animals in our city. Deer on a busy street, crossing in front of a bus. I enjoyed reading your post
I, too, enjoy seeing wildlife in a community. Thanks for sharing your story about deer crossing in front of a bus.
I’ve seen “duck crossing” signs, but never a “geese crossing” sign. Nice post, Audrey.
The only animal crossing signs I’ve seen are for deer. Thanks for sharing your crossing sign spotting from Texas. And thanks for appreciating this post.
I think giving these geese a little time to cross a road is also an act of empathy for living things smaller and more fragile than we are.
That’s an excellent point. Much to learn in a moment like this.
A good analogy.
Thank you, my friend.
a perfect reminder and lesson. it takes a village, all on the same page, to help the others, and to keep everyone safe.
today, I went with my friend to talk to someone in our community who has a little restaurant, who told us about 3 young men who have not felt safe enough to leave their home to shop for food or to work. we then asked a local store what kind of foods they might like that would bring them comfort and feel like home. they helped us to choose some things that they thought would bring a smile to their faces and fill them at the same time. we went their home and they were so happy and gave us a hug and a bottle of water as a thank you. we shared a few words and all it took was a few people along the way, helping to make some other people’s day better, who have been struggling.
What a wonderful thing you did for those three young men. You are an angel, Beth!
we all do what we can to help to make it better for someone else
A few years back a woman in Fargo noticed a Deer Crossing sign in a particularly hazardous area. She called in to a local radio station that was having a call-in segment and she recommended that they move the Deer crossing sign to a safe pint along her run down the road way to make the deer crossing point safer for both the motorists and for the deer. If you caught the obvious error here, Thank You. If the sign had been moved, this person would have thought they did their part to make a safe pathway for the deer across a busy roadway. problem is – deer can’t read! So, this lady and other like her get a false sense of being a positive force in there community AND creating more unsafe behavior between man and beast.
I DID catch the obvious error. Sometimes we must think things through completely. Thanks for sharing this story. And welcome to the comments section.