A Hope for a New Year: Finding Resolution:

Last year was marked with a variety of conflict situations. We witnessed political conflict and upheaval as well as economic, cultural, and even educational. No matter where you looked, rather locally or nationally, a host of tense, gridlocked situations were afoot. As the start of the New Year has begun, I wonder how we will face these lingering, or even new, anxious situations.

Conflict is never an easy context. Most people become uncomfortable, afraid, and even angry. Some run from it while others fight it. We can use party lines and agendas as straw men to avoid really dealing with the issues underlying these abrasive situations. (I recognize that as the context gets larger—say policy or governance—the complexity increases as well.) But a question to consider as we enter this New Year: Have we created an environment conducive for meditative processes?

The great opportunity for us is that meditative processes can be utilized in every area of our lives. We can use them in our marriages and friendships. We can use them in our jobs and organizations. Yes, we can even use them in our political process. One thing to remember, however, is that meditative processes are not always exciting. They require attention, intention, and large quantities of energy. To be a mediator requires living with disagreement and continuing to converse through it. But realize that even if this is done well, there is no guarantee that resolution will be found. Do not overestimate human capacity nor underestimate it either. It is important to have a critical realism and imagination about these processes.

What can be gained, even if disagreement doesn’t immediately come, is perspective and respect. We gain perspective about another person(s) position, and we can hopefully garner respect for all involved. By engaging people on their terms, and vice versa, we begin to look for creative opportunity and resolution.

This is my focus as I start my New Year. I want to give more attention to those conflicting situations with which I find myself. In doing this, I hope that resolutions can be created or that I can at least understand another’s position more fully. If you would like to see this in your life as well then I hope you will join me in this exercise.

CPF.