Conflict- no one likes it. Well, most people don't like it, there are some who live for it, but that's another story. And yet, when we speak of 40 Days of community, we come to dealing with conflict sooner or later. Hmmm, maybe this is what I should speak to on Sunday.
Some times people think, "Oh a Church, that's a place of harmony..." Well, judging from what St. Paul wrote to his congregation in Corinth in 58 A.D. " I beg you al in the name of Christ Jesus, stop arguing with one another. Let there be real harmony." That tells me, that conflict has always been with us.
Over the years at St. Andrew there have been times when conflict has been a part of our life, but I have to say that we've done a pretty good job of work through those conflicts. Probably there were times when we/I could have handled it better. But, we live and learn through these experiences.
I'm finding as I get older that most conflict with people largely stems from one person feeling disempowered by another. Here's the Christ thing in this. You have to be willing to be the less powerful one, in order to gain power. It doesn't make sense, but it's true.
Go for the love, not the win.
Day 19 - Sorry this isn't quite a clearly written as others. Tired tonight.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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- The St Andrew Blog
- Charlestown, Rhode Island, United States
- Pastor Jim Hazelwood
2 comments:
Just got back to Wisconsin from Cleveland and I'm as bleary as you so this all makes perfect sense! :-) Thankfully, somebody else is as exhausted as I am ... and yet VERY thankful about how this week has turned out ;-)
Yes, indeed
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