Why Me?

“But why me?”

It was uttered with a loud sigh:

“Why not somebody else?”

As though in an attempt fate to defy.

How oft does one say

“Why me?” when things are great?

Never! But when it begins to hurt

Then life we berate.

“Why not me?” seldom happens

Since we feel that we are entitled

To the best that life can offer:

Yes! We are that kind of people.

So that when the paradigm shifts

And life hands us a lemon

“Why me?” is the selfish response

For being unfairly smitten.

I know it sounds familiar

To both the sinner and the saint,

“Why me?” is a common utterance

For both the strong and the faint.

Adversity is no respect of persons

It cares not who we are,

Like death it visits everyone:

From the stage help to the star.

That sounds rather fair to me

But it’s all right for me to talk

Until my “Why me?” time comes

And affliction begins to stalk.

Often one person’s adversity

Becomes somebody else’s yearning

That may sound rather peculiar

But let us take in some learning.

Some people’s dilemma

Is which of their outfits to wear

While for many others

A second would bring then cheer.

  

Some have several flat screen TVs

There’s one in every room

And should one begin to falter

It is replaced quite soon.

For some it doesn’t matter the extent

To which the economy recedes

They have sufficient and more

To satisfy their utmost greed.

But when something comes their way

Which possessions cannot fix

Hear the “Why me?” cry

When they are suddenly hit for six.

Believers are guilty too

As they soak up their daily blessings

But then the “Why me?” comes

In something they find distressing.

It mightn’t be anything big

But once it goes against the grain

“Why me?” is the automatic response

Once we have to hold some strain.

Don’t for one moment think

That I am exonerated,

This is just my call for help

I too need to be spiritually educated.

For when I think I am learning

I will sometimes lapse again

So this is not to knock you

But to encourage us all in Jesus’ name.

It’s in adversity that we grow

So “Why not me?” we should ask

Every time we face a trial

Since God may be prescribing that task.

I know it’s easier said than done

And I am still struggling with it

So here is my call for help

To anyone that’s well equipped.

Stewart Russell © June 2018