Monday, December 8, 2014

Words in a hallway

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Overheard in the primary side of the school, following a nutrition break:


“What happened on the playground this recess was not very nice and wasn’t fair.” - student

“That’s not walking in the way of love, is it?” – another student, directed at the teacher

“Yeah, God says that we’re supposed to walk in love!” yet another student.




Such words from some of our youngest students tell us that our school theme “Walk in the Way of Love” from Ephesians 5:2 has made an impression on them. Praise God! For 14 weeks already this year students have been attending Monday morning chapels, heard teachers share God’s word with them, and learned to live in community as they experienced moments of harmony and conflict.

We certainly experience both of them in the pulse of daily life here at our school, although we are very grateful that moments of peace, joy, and contentment far outnumber times of conflict. Conflict does not bring us joy, yet the Christian school knows that some of the most formative and direction-setting moments can often come from handling conflict well. The manner in which we work through conflict speaks much about what matters most to our school.

Years ago, on a highway billboard in giant letters, I read “Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”

So what characterizes conflict managed well, by peaceful means? Here are some ideas:

 There is always a best and worst time to deal with conflict. Generally, a period of pause and reflection before sweating out the resolution of conflict together is best.

 Avoiding conflict comes at its own cost.

 The ultimate goal of conflict resolution is unity, not victory.

 The pathway towards resolution begins with small groups, not big ones.

 Resolving conflict may require vulnerability and humility, but should not require embarrassment or eroding the value of another person.

 True conflict resolution ends not with tolerance, but forgiveness.

 While God delights in unity which brings Him glory, his opponent delights in anything that can frustrate and hinder the process.

May God bless our efforts to live in faithfulness together. SJ

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