Conflict is like a mountain stream. Along this stream are large and small obstacles to overcome —some are huge boulders, others are small pebbles. Further downstream, as gravity pulls the water toward the sea, deep cuts are made in the earth as it races toward its destiny.

The moral of this metaphor is that individuals need to take care of conflicts and misunderstandings in their initial stages while they are manageable. Refusal to do so produces deep wounds that may never heal, leading to a virtual sea of sorrow and unresolved problems that can last a lifetime (Proverbs 18:19; 15:1; 25:11; Matthew 18:15).