Hymn for NOV.

Posted on November 27, 2017.

 I've alwalys loved country music even when it wasn't popular. You may have heard the song "Why Me Lord". This song has always moved me from the first time I heard it back in the 1970's. I saw Kristofferson on YouTube telling of his experience which inspired him to write his song.

"Why Me" was recorded by Kristofferson in 1972, and features backing vocals by soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin. It was included on the album, Jesus Was a Capricorn and, in 1973, the song became the biggest hit of his career.

Kristofferson wrote the song during an emotionally low period of his life after having attended a religious service conducted by the Rev. Jimmie Rogers Snow.

Kristofferson said he went with friends to a church service where he was moved by Larry Gatlin's song "Help Me (Lord)". He said that he had never thought of needing help, but he was at a low point in his life. When the pastor asked the congregation, "Is anybody feeling lost?" "Up goes my hand," Kristofferson says. The Pastor then asked, "Are you ready to accept Christ? Kneel down there." "I'm kneeling there," Kristofferson continues, "and I carry a big load of guilt around...and I was just out of control, crying. It was a release. It really shook me up." Kristofferson later said, "It was just a personal thing I was going through at the time. I had some kind of experience that I can't even explain."

"Why Me" was Kristofferson's lone major country hit as a solo recording artist, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart in July 1973. Consequently, the song ranked sixth on the list of Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1973.

You can look it up on youtube and see him personally tell his story.  In the video Chris said when he heard the call to come forward he said  "No way,   that's not gonna happen",   and yet he found himself up front, crying his eyes out in front of everyone and feelling such a relief of guilt and burden lifted from him. How many times have we felt the same way and afraid to take that first step?