Journeys into the Heart of Conflict

This is an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Mr. Cloke. Sweet, indeed, are the uses of adversity, yet this sweetness is often concealed in the ugly, venomous aspects of conflict. The "precious jewels" our conflicts contain are the deeper truths they are able to teach us. What prevents us from recognizing these deeper truths and learning from our conflicts?

What drives us along ugly, venomous paths of aggression and self-destruction rather than dialogue and constructive engagement? What keeps us locked in impasse? And how can a deeper understanding of the origin of our conflicts help us locate these precious jewels and turn them to use?