Ron Hall and Denver Moore wrote Same Kind of Different As Me.  I have not read it yet although many have recommended that I do so.

As I understand it, the setting is in Ft. Worth, Texas so it really intrigues me. One person shared with me that all Abilene Christian freshman are required to read this book.

Today I want to share with you from Ron Rose's Faith notes.   Rose writes:

"A little less than half way through the book Ron Hall (art buyer) and Denver Moore (homeless person) are hanging out at a Ft. Worth Starbucks drinking fancy coffee: He spoke slowly, deliberately, keeping me pinned with his eyeball, ignoring the Starbucks groupies coming and going on the patio around us."

Excerpt from Same Kind of Different As Me:

"I heard when white folks go fishin' they do something called 'catch and release.'"

Catch and release? I nodded solemnly, suddenly nervous and curious at the same time.

"That really bothers me." Denver went on. "I just can't figure it out. Cause when colored folks go fishin, we really proud of what we catch, and we take and show it off to everybody who will take a look. Then we eat what we catch...in other words, we use it to sustain us. So it really bothers me that white folks would go to all that trouble to catch a fish, and then when it's caught, just throw it back in the water."

He paused again, and the silence between us stretched a full minute. Then: "Did you hear what I said?"

I nodded afraid to speak, afraid to offend.

Denver looked away, searching the blue Autumn sky, then looked at me again with that drill bit stare. "So Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend, you just catch and release, then I ain't go no desire to be your friend."

The world seemed to stop in midstride and fall silent around us like those freeze frame scenes on TV.  I could hear my heart pounding and imagined Denver could see it popping my breast pocket up and down. I returned Denver's gaze with what I hoped was a receptive expression and hung on.

Suddenly his eyes gentled and he spoke more softly than before: " But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I'll be one. Forever."

Good stuff. Life doesn't get much better than life long friends. Some of you who read this blog are life long friends. Thank you. If you have a life long friend, send him the address to this blog and tell him/her you were thinking of them. It'll make a difference in their lives. Promise.

rb