This week's Community Column is written by the Rev Ian Miller.

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I AM sure we have all heard of Gilbert and Sullivan, the creators of such wonderful light operas and so many wonderful, amusing songs.

At the height of their success, they even bought a theatre together. Then came a disagreement.

Sullivan ordered new carpets. But when the account arrived, Gilbert hit the roof and refused to pay. They argued and fought about it, and finally took the case to court.

The claim was eventually settled but the breach never was. They never spoke to one another again.

When Arthur Sullivan wrote the music he posted it to W.S Gilbert. Then, when Gilbert finished the libretto, he would post it back to Sullivan again. How sad!

I wonder what it is like in the White House where the most powerful man in the world makes it his hobby to fall out with people?

There was a famous reporter of yesteryear, who gave Jimmy Carter a hard time. He told of travelling with Carter to a village in India to see how the village solved its energy problem.

They did it by throwing all the manure from their herds into a pit, then siphoning off the methane gas to light the village lamps.

Standing with Carter on the edge of the pit, the reporter asked: “If I fell in, you would you pull me out, wouldn’t you, Mr President, good Christian that you are?”

“Certainly,” Carter replied. Then he paused, and added: “After a suitable interval.”

Conflict brings pain. That’s why we should take it seriously.

There is a lovely wee story about a housing development that began to expand. The locals decided it should have its own name. but they couldn’t agree on the name.

The discussion in the community hall became heated. One man was upset by the way things were developing so he pleaded, “Let us have some harmony!”

Someone shouted back, “Yes! That is a good name Let’s have harmony!” And so it was decided - Harmony.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all live there in Harmony?