Seeds of Conflict

Posted on July 18, 2022 by mitchteemley

'Woodburn Green' by Benjamin Davies (unsplash.com)

Photo by Benjamin Davies

Thought for the Week

You and I are like grass. When we are healthy and growing close together, the seeds of conflict have little room to take root. But when grass is sparse and unhealthy, weeds soon occupy the open space and proliferate, pushing the blades of grass even further apart. The cure is not for us to attack one another, but the weeds. Not by denying their existence, or even by hacking them off at the surface, which is temporary at best. But by finding and pulling out their roots — and then growing close together again.

“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”
~African Proverb

“Sadly, we rarely recognize the seeds of conflict when we’re sowing them.” ~The Wishing Map

“How will we ever survive this if we can’t survive each other?”
~Rory Power

“Great political leaders are energized by conflict. I’m energized by listening to people’s stories and trying to figure out shared solutions.”
~Gloria Steinem

“In the game of arguments, the person who finds a mutually acceptable solution is the winner.”
~Sukant Ratnakar

“We don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note. Only notes that are different can harmonize. The same is true with people.”
~Steve Goodier

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” ~Matthew 5:9

φ

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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29 Responses to Seeds of Conflict

  1. Steve Beckham says:
    July 18, 2022 at 12:55 pm

    I was just thinking about conflict, Mitch, so your post is helpful…as always. It occurs to me that some political folk sometimes create conflict where none previously existed so that they can form a “base” and exploit all the energy that the conflict generates. Seems to me that that is how the “culture wars” were created.

    Reply
  2. Jack Gator says:
    July 18, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of it’s victims may be the most repressive. It may be better to live under robber barons, then under omnipotent moral busybodies” C.S. Lewis

    Reply
  3. Mike and Kellye Hefner says:
    July 18, 2022 at 1:16 pm

    Wonderful food for thought! Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Neese says:
    July 18, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    Love the quotes you used Mitch. Food for thought. Thanks…

    Reply
  5. Ana Daksina says:
    July 18, 2022 at 2:07 pm

    Saved a couple of these treasures to pass on to my own readers in future, many thanks for the collected wisdoms!

    Reply
  6. grAnnie Roo says:
    July 18, 2022 at 2:24 pm

    The perfect first read on my first day down valley. Good job, Mitch!

    Reply
  7. believe4147 says:
    July 18, 2022 at 2:33 pm

    These are some great quotes. My favorites are The Wishing Map, and Rory Power. And your analogy was really good. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  8. Liz Gauffreau says:
    July 18, 2022 at 3:27 pm

    Excellent–and timely–quotes!

    Reply
  9. C.A. Post says:
    July 18, 2022 at 3:32 pm

    In “The Insanity of Obedience” by Nik Ripken, he interviewed persecuted Christians in China who said the best way to stop the persecution was to win their persecutors to the Lord and become brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather than protesting or praying for “deliverance” from persecution, they request we pray that they will be faithful when persecuted.
    See https://capost2k.wordpress.com/2022/07/02/we-are-free-to-share/.
    ❤️&🙏, c.a.

    Reply
  10. The Minimalist Fisherman says:
    July 18, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Very good reminder… thank you.

    Reply
  11. davidsdailydose says:
    July 18, 2022 at 5:15 pm

    Your thought about weeds in the grass really makes sense, Mitch. I also love the African proverb. There are too many elephants (big people) fighting and it’s the grass (children) who often suffer most.

    Reply
  12. murisopsis says:
    July 18, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    Wonderful analogy!

    Reply
  13. Nancy Richy says:
    July 19, 2022 at 6:35 am

    “And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.” – The Beatles

    Reply
  14. keithpetersen80 says:
    July 20, 2022 at 1:05 am

    I like the analogy of weeds taking root when there is too much distance. So much could be said about conflict resolution–and has been–but allow me to say here that shared experiences are glue that keeps people close, along with making weed-pulling easier.

    Reply
  15. wordspenspoken says:
    July 20, 2022 at 9:16 am

    Great analogy ☝️

    Reply
  16. Nancy Ruegg says:
    July 20, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    In a Dr. Suess story, the grass blades would get to know one another, come to appreciate one another. Then they’d grow to care what happens to the other and step up to help as needed. Oh–and they’d put down their screens once in awhile. Can’t grow close with screens in the way.

    Reply
  17. #hood says:
    July 24, 2022 at 5:42 pm

    matthew 5:07 casting cares onto thee

    Reply

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