I recently heard an experienced colleague describe how he had been meeting with a counsellor and one of the themes they explored was his tendency towards people-pleasing (very common among clergy!) My colleague freely admitted that he found it very hard to disappoint people, and the counsellor then said that unless he was open to more conflict in his life, his relationships were likely to remain largely superficial.
That's a profound insight, don't you think? We may think that good relationships lack conflict, but in fact, all significant relationships should experience some conflict. If we want depth in our relationships, we may even say that we should welcome conflict! (which is why author and management consultant Patrick Lencioni often talks about "good conflict"). Jesus didn't run from conflict - remember the table-turning scene in the temple and some of his very blunt, provocative conversations with his disciples? He cared enough to risk disappointing people.
What will it look like for you and I to invest in our relationships this week by being courageous and honest, while still holding on to kindness and gentleness? A delicate balancing act!