Same Kind of Different?
We just finished this book after three months. Finding time to read together is tricky, but so meaningful. We found that one of the best times to read is on a Sabbath afternoon walk. If you can read and walk at the same time. :)
This is an amazing book. There were a couple things that were hard to take for those of us who believe that we will be raised from the dead at the second coming (not straight to heaven). But apart from that, the book is inspiring and eye-opening.
Three themes really stuck out to me:
1) Sharecropping was a form of slavery that existed well into the 50's and 60's (even early 70's in some areas). This book opened my eyes to a life that often leads to homelessness -- no other options. Tough reality.
2) Befriending a homeless, and very dangerous, black man -- who would want to do it and WHY? The authors don't hide much as they describe what really brought them together and made them stay together. Ever heard of a "catch and release" friend? Ever thought about befriending a homeless person just to say you did -- maybe get a trophy?
3) Dying in order to plant seeds -- so others might live. The last almost half of the book chronicles the sometimes very slow and painful process of death. Fortunately, we also get to see what happens as a result of this loss of life -- lives changed, money donated, people inspired to do more, like she did.
My response to the book? Awe.
Not even sure I would be able to darken the door of an inner city homeless shelter let alone spend most of my free time there, befriending difficult people.
I have another perspective on humanity now. A better understanding of what takes people down and what can bring them back up.
I'm still working on the "get out of your comfort zone and do something for these people" part.
Still trying to figure out the title?? Read this...
"...I found out everybody's different -- the same kind of different as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless -- just workin our way toward home."
--Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
This is an amazing book. There were a couple things that were hard to take for those of us who believe that we will be raised from the dead at the second coming (not straight to heaven). But apart from that, the book is inspiring and eye-opening.
Three themes really stuck out to me:
1) Sharecropping was a form of slavery that existed well into the 50's and 60's (even early 70's in some areas). This book opened my eyes to a life that often leads to homelessness -- no other options. Tough reality.
2) Befriending a homeless, and very dangerous, black man -- who would want to do it and WHY? The authors don't hide much as they describe what really brought them together and made them stay together. Ever heard of a "catch and release" friend? Ever thought about befriending a homeless person just to say you did -- maybe get a trophy?
3) Dying in order to plant seeds -- so others might live. The last almost half of the book chronicles the sometimes very slow and painful process of death. Fortunately, we also get to see what happens as a result of this loss of life -- lives changed, money donated, people inspired to do more, like she did.
My response to the book? Awe.
Not even sure I would be able to darken the door of an inner city homeless shelter let alone spend most of my free time there, befriending difficult people.
I have another perspective on humanity now. A better understanding of what takes people down and what can bring them back up.
I'm still working on the "get out of your comfort zone and do something for these people" part.
Still trying to figure out the title?? Read this...
"...I found out everybody's different -- the same kind of different as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless -- just workin our way toward home."
--Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore