While Jesus is on record for saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” he never said, “Blessed are the conflict-avoiders”.  In fact, it really is counterintuitive, but peacemaking assumes conflict.  And when it comes to conflict there tends to be three kinds of people: Turtles, Sharks and Doctors.

Turtles:

You know how turtles handle conflict.  When they see something they don’t like, or appears threatening, they withdraw into themselves.  Avoidance is the defense mechanism of turtles when it comes to conflict.  Know anyone like this? A turtle says, “I know I need to say something, but if I do it’s going to cause a fight, so let me not even say anything, let me just keep the peace.”  Maybe that friend, spouse or relationship needs to be confronted, but you know they tend to be really touchy or sensitive, and if you say something all hell will break loose, so you avoid the issue in an effort to keep the peace.  Turtles aren’t peacemakers, because in their refusal to deal with the issue they actually disturb the peace instead of making peace.

Sharks:

 On the other extreme are sharks.  When it comes to conflict, sharks smell blood- they see an issue and want to fly to it.  When your spouse seems quiet, or that friend seems down, the shark is like, “What’s wrong?  What’s wrong?  What’s wrong?  We need to talk about this now!”  Did you know that sharks cannot move backwards?  And when it comes to conflict, proverbial sharks have a hard time backing off of things.  Everything tends to be an issue, and needs to be addressed right now.  Instead of peacemaking, sharks tend to kill relationships by their insensitivity and over aggressiveness. 

Doctors:

When it comes to conflict we all need to be doctors.  When a person is feeling a conflict in their body, they go to a doctor.  The doctor will spend a lot of time asking questions and listening.  The doctor will also run tests.  Now all of this question asking, listening and testing is the doctor trying to discern if the issue needs to be addressed, how it needs to be addressed and when it needs to be addressed? Sometimes the doctor will surprise the patient by telling them no action needs to be taken.  Things just need to run their course.  Other times the doctor will say the issue needs to be dealt with but in a non-invasive way with medication prescribed.  But then there are times when surgery needs to be scheduled where momentary pain will be inflicted to bring about long term healing.  The doctor does all this to bring peace to the body.

Jesus- the one who told us to be peacemakers- is called the Prince of Peace.  You and I were at odds with God, causing a conflict.  I’m grateful God isn’t a turtle or our sins would not have been dealt with.  And had God been a shark we would have been consumed.  Instead, God sent Jesus, also known as the Great Physician, who on the cross mediated the conflict and brought reconciliation, making peace.