This is a Must Read!

I wish everyone in America would read this book! If I were in charge, which clearly I am not, Same Kind of Different As Me would be required reading in every school in America. My dream will likely never come true, because Same Kind of Different is overtly Christian. However, whether you hold to Christian ideals or not, you will find this true story riveting! Same Kind of Different is a true story; some might call it a memoir, of two unlikely friends who appear to have nothing in common, except for the love and respect of one amazing woman – Debbie Hall.

Ron Hall and Denver Moore are not writers. They tell their story from their own perspectives in their own dialects, so the book is written in two separate voices, over lapping and intertwining. I found their story-telling style endearing and refreshing. Ron Hall is a well-known and respected dealer of fine art in Fort Worth, Texas. Denver Moore is a former share-cropper/homeless man who grew up in Louisiana but escaped via train to Texas in his twenties. By this description, you may believe that they lived in the late 1800’s, but this is a modern story taking place in the second half of the 1900’s.

Hall and Moore lived very different lives, although they both have pasts they are not proud of. They met only after Hall and his wife Debbie, began volunteering at a mission for the homeless street people of Fort Worth. Every Tuesday, while serving dinner, they would encounter a strong, silent, stand-offish, old black man. While most were intimidated by him, (even the other homeless), Debbie wasn’t afraid of anyone. Repeatedly, she and Ron extended the hand of friendship and unconditional love, until one day, Denver Moore could no longer resist. Just as Moore began to let his guard down, the unthinkable happens and the lives of all who love Debbie are changed forever.

Same Kind of Different As Me deals with friendship, prejudice, justice, career, health, wealth, poverty and eternity. It is set primarily in Fort Worth, Texas, although we see a few glimpses into a Louisiana that no self-respecting Politically Correct American would dare to even imagine. This setting was extremely personal to me, as I grew up near Ft. Worth and was painfully familiar with most of the landmarks identified. However, the story-tellers do a fantastic job of painting vivid pictures for those who may be less familiar with “Cow town, USA.” As Denver describes in detail how he and a buddy used to bathe in the Ft.Worth Water Gardens, I remember a terrible incident that occurred a few years ago where 3 visitors drown in the fountains. The fountains were drained and examined for several days. All I could think of while reading was “Wow, how many homeless people missed their baths because their tub had been drained.” That may seem odd, but I am telling you, you will gain new perspective on homelessness after peering into the life of Denver Moore.

You will also gain new perspective into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. It seems that the rich and the poor have more in common than anyone may realize. That “charmed” life involves temptation, tough choices, and sacrifice. One thing I know for sure – we all get sick and everyone eventually dies. No one escapes that.

I said that Same Kind of Different is “overtly Christian”, and it is. The primary bond for these two men is their love for and belief in God. Their faith is woven throughout their story, but it is not preachy. These men are just two men with a common love. It is their commonalities, and their differences that hold them together. I believe men who read this story will find themselves longing for the type of friendship that Ron and Denver have – the type of friendship that exalts trust, giving, and compassion.

www.samekindofdifferentasme.com