How Conflict Begins

Quote of the day:
"Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment."
--Damon Runyon

The other day I read a classic story that described how human conflict begins.

Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. When Rebekah was pregnant, she felt the twins struggling.

As infants they were very different. Esau, the first born, grows up to be a hunter--a “man of the field,” while Jacob becomes a quiet man “living in tents.”

Esau comes in from a long day of hunting and asks Jacob for some food. Jacob gives it to him, but only after Esau agrees to give him his inheritance and position as firstborn son.

These are two opposite personalities. One is extraverted, active, emotional and rebellious; the other is introverted, reflective, intelligent and obedient. One is careless and indifferent about the future; the other is clever and knows how to manipulate for political advantage.

Conflict between these two personality types is all around us--at home, at work, in the news.

If you grew up with a brother or sister, you know who was the responsible, obedient one and who was the careless, rebellious one. You know who was good in sports and who was good in school.

You carry your feelings about your brother or sister everywhere you go, for your whole life. People who are like your brother or sister will trigger those feelings.

This is how a lot of conflict begins, and how all conflict is made worse.

Think about conflicts in the news. For San Diegans, it’s Mayor Jerry Sanders and City Attorney Mike Aguirre.

Political groups and nations have these personality types, which triggers and exacerbates conflicts among them.

The bible is extraordinarily insightful when you let it be that way. Specifically, it is insightful about nature of human beings and their families, and where the trouble in our lives often originates.