The Pain of Conflict

While there may be some who thrive on conflict I do not count myself amongst their number.  None the less I often find myself in the midst of conflict.  I have come to the conclusion that little change can take place and in fact not much can be accomplished without conflict of some sort.  If there is no conflict there is probably not much happening.  Yesterday I was asked if there was someone in my life who stood out as an inspiration around of the subject of change.  Without a moment's hesitation I knew the answer to the question.  The Bishop who ordained me - Timothy Matthews - was a man whose leadership in the area of change inspired me immensely.  As a leader he was willing to stand up and be counted in order to bring change in the church.  His causes were often unpopular amongst the establishment and he regularly vilified as being irresponsible or unorthodox.  Perhaps all his causes were not correct, but it was his personal courage and willingness to take the risk that inspired me the most.

Many have compared the pain of conflict to childbirth.  Paul the apostle found it necessary to confront the Galatians about their spiritual walk wrote:


"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you."  (Galatians 4:19-20) 

If conflict is the labour of childbirth, then the resulting change is the child.  How much joy there is when the child is born.

"May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism."


Unknown