“Same Kind of Different As Me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn VinceThis book can perhaps be described as a morality play with four main characters: Ron, the well-to-do art collector; Deborah, Ron's wife and the angel on earth who is dying; Denver, the homeless man with a shady past whom Ron and Deborah befriend; and God as he appears to and through each of these characters.
The narrative style isengaging, as we move back and forth between the perspectives of these two very different men struggling with a common tragedy and dealing with a loss in dramatically different ways. While Ron goes from “arm’s length altruism” to true giving in the course of the story, he continues asking God to give his wife the miracle of new life almost to the end. Denver, in his simple and direct faith-based way, does Herculean duty as he literally “prays without ceasing” for God’s guidance and will.
This dichotomy between “Give Me Prayer” and “Tell Me Prayer” is one of the messages at the heart of this well-written and often humorous book. We learn that relationships, whether with others here on earth or with God, are often long and difficult in the growing. I found it especially fascinating to watch the transformation of Denver from the one being ministered to into the one ministering to others as the story moves forward.
This is an inspiring and engaging work and one which I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to read an account of how God works through people to create love and benevolence here on earth.
