Same Kind of Different as Me

Bibliography
Hall, Ron, and Denver Moore. Same Kind of Different As Me. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

Plot Summary
This is a story of two men who come from different worlds (one is an international art dealer, the other is an illiterate, homeless man) to become the greatest of friends. This is a story of love and reflection.

My Thoughts:
Sometimes, you are just meant to read a book. I first heard about this book when my minister referred to it in a sermon. I looked it up on Amazon.com to buy it, but I thought about the many other books that I already own that I haven't read, so I didn't order it. Several months later in a hospital waiting room, I saw a woman reading this book. I recognized the cover. Ten months pass. When my school library received a shipment of new books, this title was there, and I saw it on the "New Books" display. I checked it out and left it on my desk for another two weeks.

I finally started reading it and read 17 chapters in the first sitting. One of the authors talked about places that I know, and he would have to know in order to talk about them. He mentions his grandparents' house in Barry, TX and a cemetery in Blooming Grove. Now, if you've never been there, you have no idea where these places are (unless you Yahoo map them). Well, it just so happens that I grew up with some kids whose grandparents lived in both Barry and Blooming Grove. So, tonight I was telling my dad about this book. He looked at the inside cover and asked if these were the men that were on the front page of today's paper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram 13 Dec. 2008: B1). Sometimes, you are just meant to read a book.

I finished this book in three days. I was compelled to read. I felt like Ron in many instances. Because I am familiar with Fort Worth, I could visualize where the men were talking and how I've thought about those areas of town. I also felt the connection between these two men and how much Ron's wife Debbie influenced their relationship.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Denver is talking about his relationship with God. He states, "Sometimes I talked to God, askin Him why. Even though I'd had a word or two from Him about His purposes, and even though I'd delivered them words to Mr. Ron like He asked me to, that didn't mean I had to like it. And I told Him I didn't like it. That's the good thing 'bout God. Since He can see right through your heart anyway, you can go on and tell Him what you really think" (Hall 193). I love the honesty Denver shares and how his relationship with God is not one of convenience. Denver is a believer.

The title reference (since I like to pick that out of books) is on page 235. Denver says, "We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us" (Hall 235).

I'm glad I read this book.

Addendum March 2012: I recommended this book to a coworker. She came back very upset with me that I didn't warn her about Debbie dying. I honestly didn't remember that part, so I thought I needed to re-read the book. WOW! There are about 100 pages discussing her cancer & death, and as I read, I remember feeling the power and sadness that I did the first time reading. How did I forget this part? What made me block out these many chapters? I don't know. I marked a quote from Denver to post here now. When I re-read my original post, I already had this quote. Sometimes you are just meant to read a book for a second time!