Conflict as a creator of beauty

In all aspects of nature, conflict creates beauty. In order to get wood smooth and to a useful state, it is sanded - repeatedly peeling layers off to get to it's soft inner core. A diamond is the center of coal which must be destroyed to uncover the inner beauty. Rocks become shiny by being tossed by water and tumbling over other rocks until their smooth, shiny surface is exposed. In each instance, it is the conflict which exposes the inner core that creates the beauty. Humans are the same way, although we do all we can to avoid conflict and not have our inner parts exposed. It is making ourselves vulnerable, by walking into conflict, by showing strength to be tossed around a bit, that our vulnerablity exposed and thus our beauty. Our beauty is not found in our outer layers of tanned skin, dyed hair and painted nails. Our beauty is found at our core. At those vulnerable layers that require exposure in order to be seen. Stepping into conflict, living in ambiguity, moving about in the grey areas allows us to expose ourselves and allows others to expose those parts of ourselves that hold the most beauty.