Lessons from “Gangsta” the Insane Goose

Please watch the video above 1st for this article to make sense. 

There are two things that have really struck us about our experience with Gangsta the goose. The first is obvious: If a goose can volunteer to care for and protect a duck and her babies, we can look for ways of taking better care of each other.

The other lesson was more subtle.

At first we didn’t like Gangsta, at all. He was making us crazy. But as the weeks went by, we grew to understand him and appreciate how committed he was to his mission. In fact, after the eggs hatched and Gangsta’s family moved to the lake, we were surprised at how quickly we actually missed him!

From there, our friendship with Gangsta became sort of a symbol of what we all need so much more of in this world- understanding and respect.

It’s easy to judge and dismiss people we don’t agree with or understand, like we did Gangsta. I’m not excusing his misbehavior. After all, we have listened to weeks of screaming on the sidewalk. But we’ve learned with Gangsta to take a closer look- to try and see the hidden message of care or devotion behind the insanity.

Yes, Gangsta taught us that we can take better care of each other, but growing to love him taught us something even more important: Even when we feel, by our views, someone is misbehaving- even when we feel divebombed, there may be something we can’t see. Metaphorically speaking, there may be a goose trying to care for a duck’s eggs.

Narelle wishes Gangsta “Happy Father’s Day.” (He’s not the duckling’s biological Father, but he deserves the title.)

Gangsta in Japan