CONFLICT
I glory in conflict, that I may hereafter exult in victory.
Although many would wish it otherwise, there is simply no escaping conflict. It is fundamental to human life. We experience it early, as infants, when we want our bottle or toy or some sharp implement, but mother takes it away. We experience conflict at home, at school, in the playground. As adults, we experience it with our friends and loved ones, at work, on the bus, anywhere.
African-Americans are no strangers to conflict. Our history is rife with heroes and heroines who did not shrink back from the bitter and often brutal realities of conflict. It is certain we would have made no progress by avoiding it.
While we need not go out of our way to look for conflict—and some enjoy a good fight as much as a good meal—we can accept its inevitability and find our individual style for dealing with it.
On this day, I will take five minutes to remember a time when I was in a challenging situation and triumphed.
