Why Me, Lord (07/30/2026)

This morning as I sat on my porch pondering the day, the week, the month of July, I found myself asking “Why me, Lord?” But it wasn’t a question in the face of difficulty, it was a question in the face of awareness of just how blessed my life has been. My mind and heart were full of moments with family, moments with friends, moments when I knew the LORD was with me, and I honestly wondered what I ever did to deserve the LORD’s loving presence and blessing in abundance.

I pictured the LORD as the potter in today’s first reading from Jeremiah, and suddenly it  reminded me of a song from over 50 years ago, written and performed by Kris Kristofferson titled “Why Me.” He wrote it after a spiritually altering and illuminating moment at a revival. It’s a great song. It’s worth pondering.

Why me Lord?

What have I ever done

To deserve even one

Of the pleasure I've known?

Tell me, Lord

What did I ever do

That was worth lovin' you

For the kindness you've shown?

Lord help me, Jesus

I've wasted it so

Help me, Jesus

I know what I am

But now that I know

That I needed you so

Help me, Jesus

My soul's in your hands

Try me, Lord

If you think there's a way

I can try to repay

All I've taken from you

Maybe, Lord

I can show someone else

What I've been through myself

On my way back to you

We who are on “the Way,” following in the footsteps of Christ know in our hearts both His great love and our own unworthiness. While to those who don’t believe, this may seem to be an impossible pairing, we who call ourselves by His name, we Christians, we know that His mercy exceeds our unworthiness, trumps it completely. And we are left, much like the song says wondering “Why me, Lord?”  But if we’ve been on “the Way” for a while, we put this question in the pile with the other great mysteries that we may not ever clearly and completely understand this side of the sod. But we know it to be true. We have experienced it.

Today, as we go forth into the world to do what we need to do, let us take that sense of wonder and loving gratitude with us. Let us never forget the LORD’s love for us and how He seeks us and loves us and how through His loving mercy, we are being called to life in Him. Let us be willing to put our souls in His hands.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.