Worth Repeating ... some more ...

I quoted "Same Kind of Different as Me" on Wednesday, but I have more quotes from this book that I'd recommend, especially to someone open to a reminder that while our lives may look different from one another on the outside, we all are people wandering through life, wondering about God's plan for this and that. This true story by Ron Hall and Denver Moore shows God has a plan and He uses the people in our lives to get us to where he wants us.

"I heard that when white folks go fishin they do somethin 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 it and show it off to everybody that'll 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, then when they done caught it, just throw it back in the water."

... "So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon' catch and release, then I ain't got no desire to be your friend."

The world seemed to halt in midstride and fall silent around us like one of 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."

Aside from the story itself, I loved how these two men -- one a modern-day black slave turned homeless man and the other a rich, white art dealer -- told their story together. They both had much to teach each other.

And I told Him I didn't like it. That's the good thing 'bout God. Since He can see right through your heart anyway, you can go on and tell Him what you really think."