Conflict dynamics

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”.

What Dr. King understood was that as human beings, we will do things to others that they may not like, and others will do things to us that we don’t like. Its going to happen. No one is exempt from experiencing conflict.

Disagreements. Differences of opinions, or challenging opposition. It is a part of life that our Creator wants us to wrap our head around, and possibly address through mediation. Teens and parents. Spouses. Employers. All relationships stand and become stronger or fall apart, based upon how we handle uncomfortable or upsetting situations.

It is about ones unsaid, untreated and unhealed wounds. Unresolved issues.Conflict in and of itself, can be healthy or destructive. It is our response to conflict that makes the difference.  Unresolved, conflict can manifest itself in many ways and forms.  From bullying to silent seething, and everything in between, it is often our natural and normal response to feeling a certain type of way when we feel hurt or harmed.

We must not underestimate the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu, “there is no future without forgiveness.”