We are all the same - by Charlie Collier

It’s been a dream to Pastor in Old Brooklyn.

After a mission trip when I was 14 years old, I wanted to do ministry in an urban context. I
believe my motive was good and pure; I just wanted to help people in need. I was going to bring all my opinions, ideas, strategies and help people and change a neighborhood … for Jesus of course. I would have never said it like this – but I was mighty mouse – “here I come to save the day.”

I have far less answers than I did 10 years ago, but I have learned that people everywhere are
all just the same. Society puts so much emphasis on our human identity, and our differences.
We see it everywhere. We are much more a like than different. I have found this to be true so
many times in the last decade.

One day at the end of a Sunday service, a drunk, homeless man was getting very rowdy and
vocal during our coffee time. I kindly escorted him out and walked him up the street. Yes, I was
annoyed because this was getting to be a frequent event. As we walked up the street with his
rambling, he looked at me and said, “I’m messed up man.” I said, “Don’t worry, we all are.” He
looked at me and said, “man, my doctor put me on this f****ing medicine because, I am so
f****ed up.” The mood stabilizer medication he mentioned was the exact one I was taking. Now
I was wearing a sports coat and leather shoes and his clothes smelled of urine, but when I told
him about me taking the same medication, he looked me directly in the eyes and said, “you and me are no different.”

He was right.

We all deal with the curse of sin and we all need an unconditional love that only comes from
above.

I don’t have any trouble relating to people on the other side of the tracks, because we are all on the other side of the tracks. – Bob Dylan