Dear Friend,

There are three sides to every question…not just two sides - three!

Your side…the other fellow’s side…and the right side.

The key is to discover the right side.

That’s the crux of the matter…problem is, we’re not concerned about the right side.  We’re interested in our side.  The other fellow is interested in his side.

Result: impasse - deadlock.

Deadlocks are resolved only by concession and expediency.  The real issue is lost in finagling - plotting - scheming.  The whole system moves along a lower level.

Like children playing on a vacant lot: “I won’t let you use my ball unless you let me pitch.”  You don’t get the best pitcher that way!

And each side harbors a grudge - regrets concessions it’s forced to make - burns with resentment deep down.

Like a volcano, resentments seethe - smolder - some day to erupt in a worse conflagration.

Here’s a husband and wife getting along.  He has his side - she hers.  Neither wants to give in…until finally, out of sheer necessity, they must.

In order to live together concessions are made…

Each partner reluctantly gives in part way - neither can quite forget - each feels they are right.  Then some silly argument sets it off again - worse than before.  Buried grudges explode to the surface - driving them wider and wider apart.  Soon divorce is all that’s left…

There’s a third side to that!  The right side!  God’s side!

It’s the only possible remedy.  It would work - if each would take that side.  That would settle it once for all - lift the whole matter to a new level.

Here’s a conflict in industry.  Management has its side - Labor too!  Each fights to maintain its “rights”.  Deadlock!  Then they begin to whittle - jockey - conspire.  Finally agreement - but with each side giving in as little as possible…cutting in on the other as much as possible.

Both cherish the day they can regain what they lost in concessions granted out of sheer expediency.

The problem’s not solved - actually increased!  In the long run the conflict is not settled - just postponed.  Resentments burn quietly - deeply - explosively.

Expediency will never cure.  It only stops the headache temporarily - let’s the disease run its course.

We need clean - sharp - final solutions.

We’ve got to learn to seek the right side to every question:  home - business - industry - nation - world.

There’s no alternative…but chaos!

“Submit yourselves one to another in reverence for God.” (Ephesians 5:21).

Affectionately,

Richard C Halverson

(This Perspective was first distributed on August 7, 1950)