Sermon
Mark Hipp
August 13, 2006
"Why Me?"
Have you ever heard someone say "Why Me?" Have you uttered these words yourself? Why were they spoken? Were you distraught? Did something wrong happen?
Car accident? "bad" children? IRS audit?
Traffic Ticket? Health issues A broken glass or treasure?
Many of us use this "woe is me" attitude more than we realize.
"Why Me?" Why did those 'less than gifted' musicians move next door?
Let's look at some of the things I mentioned:
Car accident. What happens when you tell someone about your car accident? Is the first thing said "are you or anyone hurt?" or is it "how bad did you damage your car?"
Most instances you can be thankful that nothing worse happened. So, saying "why me?" is kind of selfish (in most cases).
In most cases, it is actually feeling sorry for yourself.
In researching some ideas for today's sermon, I 'googled' "why me?"
Can you guess how many hits for this subject? Over 3 Million!!!
Two really stood out...."Why Me?" and Sherry's House... "love and support for families with childhood cancer.
And "Y-Me" a national breast cancer support organization.
These organizations are support groups for people that are trying to understand why we get sick or come down with life-threatening diseases like cancer.
We all have our own stories of "Why Me?" and they seem to be categorized in life cycles.
In early childhood, "Why Me?" is extremely selfish and self-centered and usually involves bedtime, TV or other rules or restrictions.
In the teenage years (most of us parents said "why me?")
In those teen years, the why me's were very simple to us, but to the teenager, it was surely life or death!
I can remember my daughter wanting to stay home from school because of a skin blemish.....of course I, being a supportive dad.....when I saw her at breakfast I said something like ..."Holy Mackerel" "You should name that sucker!" Of course, she ran upstairs crying "why me?" Why did I get this 'atomic zit' today? It all seems so silly now, but then, in 8th grade, it was a true disaster!
In the late teens, it was "why me?" in another level:
Why Me? Why can't I stay out later?
Why Me? Why can't I have my own car?
Christy's Blue car story
When we get into adulthood, our "why me's?", although still selfish in nature, become more spiritual or philosophical.
In Jesus' last days on Earth, he spent his final time with his disciples. The last command he gave to them was this: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." That was from Mathew 28: 19-20
If these are the last words that Jesus gave his disciples, we must consider that they are of the utmost importance to Him, and to ourselves.
Jesus commands us to tell others about him. You may ask why me? Aren't there others more equipped to do that? I am not a preacher, I don't know what to say!
But....You are the only person who can tell your story. No one can adequately describe the wonderful blessings God has bestowed! The greatest part of telling others is that you have the opportunity to affect the lives of others for good!
"Why Me?".......Because God knows you! Like the words from the scripture Pat read a few minutes ago:
"Lord, you have searched me and known me!"
When you say "Why Me?" ...Jesus already knows why.... We need to think of the "Why Me's?" as blessings, instead of selfish, woe is me sentiments.
I would like to read a letter by Randall Methany entitled "Why Me, Lord?"
Letter........
This letter should really inspire us to write our own "Why Me? Letter. Just a few short "why me?" paragraphs to remind us that Jesus knows "Why Us" I am sure the blessings will outweigh the self-pity.
The very formulation of the question "Why Me?" presupposes the capacity of self-awareness. Dr Abraham Twerski, in "The Spritual Self" reminds us that this capacity is unique to humans. He asks, "Do Giraffes ever think about themselves? Does an alligator ever reflect, 'I wonder if I am as good an alligator as I can be?'
But humans....we begin to learn who we are as we learn to respond and relate to those who love us; that process ultimately allows us to discover who we human beings are in the universe.
The capacity to ask questions is built into human beings but the answers can only be explored in relationship with the right teachers. It is they who nurture the complex questions of spiritual awareness.
What are the gifts with which I am blessed?
What obligations do these gifts impose upon me?
What are my particular challenges in the World?
What might be my unique contribution?
How do I know which tasks belong to me and which to others?
"Why Me?" must be used as a reminder of blessings, not as a reminder of our short-falls!
We can choose how we look at "why me's?"
Because we are spiritual creatures,
Because we have the capacity for self-awareness,
Because we possess free will,
Because we can subsume our own impulses for the good of others,
Because we can learn from the past, we have a greater obligation to use our gifts to influence a world sorely in need of help.
"Why Me?".................... "Why Me? Indeed!!!"
I will close my thoughts with a remembrance of a song. I am not sure who the original author was, but Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson both recorded it, among others, but the words are the most important.
"Why Me, Lord?"........Amen
