Same Kind of Different As Me

This week I've been reading a book called Same Kind of Different As Me and oh my gosh it's so fantastic!! I would seriously recommend it to any.  It's about a rich man and a man who lived on the streets for thirty years and how they meet.  It's just so beautiful and reminded me of the faith that those of us with "privilege" don't get the chance to live with.  People on the street have faith that they will have enough to live on, that God can truly provide.  But we often look at them and see worthless hindrances to society.  It's pathetic that we think we are any better.  God does not see us as any better and we are all SAVED by the GRACE of God and not by our own choices.

Here are a few beautiful quotes from the book:
(Denver - homeless guy, Ron - rich man, Debbie- Ron's wife)

"God gives each person on the earth a set of keys, keys to live this life down here on the earth.  Now in this set, there is one key you can use to unlock prison doors and set captives free...Mr. Ron, I was captive in the devil's prison.  That was easy for Miss Debbie to see.  But I got to tell you:  Many folks had seen me behind the bars in that prison for more than thirty years, and they just walked on by.  Kept their keys in their pocket and left me locked up.  Now I ain't tryin' to run them other folks down, 'cause I was not a nice fella - dangerous- prob'ly just as happy to stay in prison.  But Miss Debbie was different - she seen me behind them bars and reached way down in her pocket and pulled out the keys God gave her and used one to unlock the prison door and set me free...She's the onlyest person that ever loved me enough not to give up on me, and I praise God that today I can sit here in your home a changed man - a free man." -pg. 179-180

"There's something I learned when I was homeless:  Our limitation is God's opportunity.  When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain't nothing you can do, that when God takes over." -pg. 169

"Sometimes it's drinkin or druggin that lands a man on the streets.  And if he ain't drinkin or druggin already, most fellas like me start in once we get there.  It ain't to have fun.  It's to have less misery.  To try and forget that no matter how many "partners in crime" we might hook up with on the street, we is still alone." - pg. 73

I'll write more in the next few days, but I hope those quotes make you rethink homelessness.  I can tell you that I've met some pretty fantastic people on the streets.  Great senses of humor, always willing to help you out, things that any other "normal" human would offer.  Just pray that God will open your hearts to what God has called us as followers of Christ to do...

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? ' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extend that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"