Just Like Me

As a young boy I enjoyed going to a friend or family member and saying, ‘You must say, ‘Just like me’, after everything I say.’ I’d then tell a little story…

‘I walked down the road.’ ‘Just like me.’ I went round the corner.’ ‘Just like me.’ I hopped on one leg.’ ‘Just like me.’ …And the story would unfold.

The punchline was, ‘And I saw a big fat monkey…’If my kind, long-suffering friend/ family member said, ‘Just like me,’ I thought it was very funny.

My earliest friendships were with children who went to church. Just-like-me. As I grew up with Christian faith we were encouraged to have Christian friends. We called it fellowship. I’ve good just-like-me Christian friends.

I trained as a teacher. I formed friendships with other teachers. We shared our good ideas, understood each other’s concerns, encouraged each other to become better just-like-me teachers.

Some of my best friends are just-like-me Christian teachers… Many folks have just-like-me friendships… young mothers, musicians, football supporters… A just-like-me friend is safe.

And yet…

The friendships and relationships that have been most valuable, that have taught me most, are with people that are not like me…

Conversations with catholic nuns about their faith, walking alongside folks struggling with addictions, understanding how folk with no money manage…

Shaun and his husband Neil each explaining what it was like to experience prejudice at school; Peter helping me understand his Mormon faith and how it affects his family life; Martin explaining why his first four marriages failed, and how his current marriage works…

…Jacob – who was Wendy, Debbie who’s still affected by the abuse she suffered as a child, Richard, who’s politics the extreme side of right…

In Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan… Just-like-me walked past; Not-like-me was the one who was held up as the example for all.

Not-like-me friendships aren’t always easy. However, I’ve repeatedly seen stereotypes proved false and prejudice broken down. Intentional not-like-me friends make my life richer.