California Condor Conflict. Read the analogy between two endangered California Condor's and Church Conflict. It is a short story with a punch.

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

Because Reconciliation Benefits Everyone

A Sobering Lesson from Two California Condors

by Dr. Kenneth C. Newberger

In the 1980's, a newspaper article appeared about a pair of endangered California Condors. These birds are North America's largest. Full-grown they stand at 4 - 4½ feet tall with a wingspan of over nine feet. These two birds of interest were the parents of the only California Condor egg that specialists could visually verify had been laid that season. At the time, there were less than 25 such birds remaining in the wild.

As characteristic of the species, the nest was positioned on the face of a steep cliff. Although a pair of California condors alternate the job of incubating their egg, usually without a major incident, this particular couple began squabbling as to which would care for the egg. When the male sat on the egg, the female would come and jab him in the face to push him away. When the female sat on the egg, the male would do the same. At one juncture, the two left the nest to take their fight into the air. The birds became so absorbed in intimidating and attacking the other neither tended to the egg.

This hours-long struggle for dominance led to an unhappy ending. In the midst of their conflict, the parents inadvertently knocked their offspring off the cliff. Shattered on the rocks below, ravens swooped in and ate the lifeless embryo.

Relevance

Generally Speaking

Veteran war correspondent, Kevin Sites, who has traveled to combat zones all over the world, came to recognize the existence of a universal pattern. He noted,

"I started to realize that what war is about, what conflict is about, is only peripherally concerning the combatants. It's only tangentially about armies. It's about the destruction of civilization. It's about the destruction of civilians, their landscape, their homes, their lives, their well-being, their health, their crops, their animals, everything that's involved with war. Even though it seems like it's about armies going head to head it's honestly about the destruction of civilians. They get killed in greater numbers. They die from sickness and illness in greater numbers. Their homes, their livelihoods are always destroyed first."

We saw this in the story above. The two adult California condors were fighting each other, yet it was their offspring that suffered most.

Our Personal Lives

Though the conflict that occurs in our personal lives likely pales in comparison to the impact of war, the case of the condors and the observation of correspondent Kevin Sites nonetheless highlights an underreported reality. Escalating cycles of conflict not only thickens the tension between those fighting, but it also causes real pain and damage to others who are not directly involved. Examples include the well-being of children whose parents regularly argue, the demise of a company (affecting the people it employs) when business partners are entrenched in sharp disagreement, and the peace and tranquility of one's own yard when neighbors feud.

The surest way to constructively address problems of ongoing conflict is to call upon the services of a skilled peacemaker. Such an expert can provide a graceful way to resolve disputes especially when the relationship and outcome both matter. When this avenue is chosen, the relationship will less likely end up on the rocks! Instead, what is important to all concerned will not only more likely survive the moment, but thrive in the future.

If you are in the midst of conflict, inquire today to learn how Dr. Newberger can help you!