I came across a blog where the difference between Spirituality and Religion was being discussed. It reminded me about one of my earlier posts, Hope and the Spirit.

It also got me wondering about a questions that ask “What’s the Difference?”. More to the point, it got me wondering about a near obsession we have about asking that question.

Looking for difference is important if you are foraging for mushrooms, or deciding which route to take to a destination. Knowing how to distinguish between edible fungi and the poisonous ones can be a life-saver, and being able to decide between the quickest journey or a more scenic one can make for more satisfactory travel.

But automatically asking “What’s the Difference?” may mean we lose something. Why ask a question that directs us to discrimination, when there might be more interest and greater peace of mind in asking “What’s the same”?

OK, so that sounds a bit weird and people will look sideways at you. I might be able to get away with it in some conversations, but I know from experience that my suggestions about questions often raise eyebrows and meet with resistance.

So how about “What do we have in common?”, “Are we looking for the same thing?”. “Can we talk about what we share?”, “What do we both like about this situation?”, for example.

Try it, there are all sorts of benefits. Feel free to experiment, and I’d love to hear how it works for you.