Conflict: You Can Count On It

I look forward to dinner with my Goddaughter on Friday nights. People who work routine hours Monday through Friday seem to take special pleasure at the end of their week. Listen closely. You might overhear, “Thank God, it’s Friday.”

Before retirement, even on jobs I enjoyed, I looked forward to Friday!

We have a little routine. First comes dinner with light conversation. More serious discussions come after we eat. She usually says she’s ready for a movie when I make my nightly cup of tea.

Whether it’s on DVD or DVR it’s fun to make comments while the movie plays out. We know there will always be a crisis or conflict of some kind.  

Conflict is part of life, real or otherwise. Writers know a story without conflict is boring. Movie producers know there’s no punch in a happy ending if there’s no conflict to overcome.

Even peaceful persons cannot avoid conflict. Do any of these words ring a bell? Struggle, strife, disagreement, differences, or misunderstanding? OK, so you have experienced conflict!

Conflict is tricky. Sometimes conflict is with another person or group of persons, but sometimes your conflict is with yourself.

Conflict can be overcome, but you must look it in the eye and not flinch. It requires honesty. It may also require humility, and/or some clarification of communication, especially if it’s in texts or emails. Sometimes it’s a matter of releasing expectations and allowing a fresh start.

Conflict resolved brings peace; God is on the side of peace. In fact, in the “Be-Attitudes,” Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9*). The Amplified Bible explains blessed as being happy and spiritually prosperous.

Psalm 120:7* says, “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” Romans 12:18* says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”  

I hear the call, do you?  “Peace . . . Party of One!”

*All Scriptures are from the New King James Version, Thomas Nelson, Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1982.