The word ‘conflict‘ strikes us hard.
It evokes an involuntary ‘gut level‘ reaction deep within us, perhaps of pain, or danger or fear. It speaks to us of relationships that won’t heal, of people who won’t listen, of wounds never acknowledged, of conduct never discussed. It may be an extreme situation which is splitting a church, school or marriage, or it may be just that lower level of conflict which causes us to avoid someone’s company in the workplace, avert our eyes at morning tea after church, and be polite and civil when underneath we feel distant or angry.