Same Kind of Different as Me

I just finished reading Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore as part of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com .It is an inspirational, true life account of the authors’ lives, from their early years to how their lives intersected and became intertwined. Chapters alternate between the two men’s lives; and later, when they are part of the same story, they alternate between the men’s viewpoints of the same events. Denver Moore was a black man, who grew up poor in Louisiana, where he suffered prejudice and heartbreak. Ron Hall was a white man from modest beginnings who went on to experience success as an art dealer. Denver tired of his life and hopped a train out of Louisiana, eventually ending up in Ft. Worth, Texas. Ron met his future wife Debbie while in college in Texas, and through a series of events in their marriage, they ended up in Ft. Worth, as well. The remarkable story of how Ron’s and Denver’s lives not only crossed paths, but became connected is so incredible, that I hesitate to even share any more details, for fear of ruining the experience for someone else.

It was difficult to read this book at first, as it was slow-moving and kind of confusing to follow. But I am so glad I stuck with it, as about 50 pages in, I became more interested and invested in the story and the people’s lives, and soon thereafter could not put it down until I had finished the whole book. It is a story that addresses the issues of prejudice, homelessness, faith, and forgiveness, in such a compelling and raw manner that it had me in tears. I highly recommend that everyone read this book, as it will speak to your heart and inspire you to love people unconditionally, in the same way that God loves us.