Article February 11, 2019 Issue

Step 1 in conflict resolution: Humility

Elizabeth Crecelius Schwartz

As much as we dislike conflicts, they do arise in day-to-day life. When they cause mental or physical distress, it can feel as though even our body is a battleground.

Numerous books and seminars offer practical advice about how to manage disputes and suggest various methods or tools to resolve them. One book that’s been an invaluable resource for me, the Holy Bible, teaches that a powerful place to start in resolving any conflict is the practice of humility. Both the Old and New Testaments contain inspiring examples of men and women who have prevented conflicts, or kept them from escalating, by expressing this spiritual quality.

For instance, in First Samuel there is a story about a woman named Abigail who averted a potentially dangerous confrontation involving her husband (see 25:2–35). The harmonious resolution, in which she played the pivotal role, demonstrates that humility is not a weakness, as some think, but is a powerful spiritual force for good that quiets human pride and tempers the emotions that sometimes flare and lead to conflict.

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Step 1 in conflict resolution: Humility

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