Difference

Today I attended a clergy meeting at the local mosque.  We had a to-die-for lunch of salmon and asparagus.   Trays of pastries passed around and around.   I could name the categories of people who were there, but I really think each represented his or her own category.  In a good way. 

So often it is easy to focus on how someone is different from us.   Instead of focusing on what we share,  the commonality, the humanity, we look instead at the things which separate us.  I guess it*s a protective measure. 

This was going to be one of those reflections which talked about what we all had in common.  Instead, I came away with a feeling of splendid difference.  Splendid amazing difference.   Here we were, all in the same room together, eating the best salmon I have ever eaten.   We barely touched the tip of the iceberg of commonality.   Being clergy, of course we talked.   But still… splendid amazing difference.  I left with the sense that I barely knew where to begin.  But still, I want to begin.

Consider this:

Sometimes we get just enough information about a person or a situation that we realize we are different.  Sometimes we get the privilege of sharing a meal, perhaps a cup of coffee even, and coming to this realization.  When did you last experience this realization that the person sitting across from you is splendidly, amazingly different?  Where and how will you begin?