Disagreement

I commend to you all the comment from Tom Milne found at www.thehubbellpew.com on Reconciliation. In fact, I commend to you all the comments that have come in.

Disagreement is a given in each of our lives. Its a natural consequence of our ability to think for ourselves, to form opinions, to make commitments, and to believe in something. As varied as are disagreements are our answers and reactions to disagreement. We can be mildly annoyed or very angry. We can stand our ground or withdraw. We can try to compromise or we walk out of the room. Our response to disagreement to a large extent depends on our investment in the issue. If we are not invested we are more likely not to get upset, but if we are talking about a deeply held opinion or belief our reaction more than likely will be powerful and forceful.

So if disagreement is a given, and if the consequences of disagreement can be severe, how do we people of Faith, cope with conflict — no matter whether it is in the church, in politics, in the home or workplace?

Within our respective faiths lies the answer. We reinforce what brings us together in the first place. To coin a football term it means getting “back to the basics.” Where did we stand together before we began to pull apart? Whether it be in the church, politics, home, or work ask, “What can hold us together?”