Photo: Canva
A couple of weeks ago I was watching a brief movie clip which showed Kris Kristofferson along with a number of friends. As he prepared to play “Why me Lord?” Kris was asked how he came to write this song. He told the story about how he had a profound religious experience when he went to a church service. During the service, the preacher said, “If anyone is lost, please raise your hand.” This led to Kris going up to the front and professing his willingness to accept Jesus into his life. What followed was a very emotional experience when Kris, to use his own words, “felt this forgiveness like I didn’t know I needed.” He also went on to write the song “Why me Lord?” I have sung this song many times and found it very moving.
This movie clip came to mind as I was reading the story about Moses and the burning bush from Exodus 3:1-12. Although Kris Kristofferson didn’t speak of it as such, I thought of his story as a “burning bush” experience. I also believe that many of us have such an experience, possibly several times, in our lives.
Let’s just recall the outlines of this familiar story. Moses was out in the wilderness looking after a herd of sheep. Suddenly, in the distance, he sees a burning bush and decides to go and investigate this strange sight. Then, as he approaches, a voice comes from the bush telling Moses to take off his shoes for he is on sacred ground. The voice then explains that this is the God of Moses’ ancestors. God adds that, having seen “the misery of my people who are in Egypt”, God wanted Moses to go to Pharoah and demand that the people be set free.
How does this ancient story speak experiences in my own life and how do I see it relate to the story of Kris Kristofferson’s “conversion” experience? First of all, the Moses’ story is about someone doing his day-to-day job, looking after the sheep. Kris says that he was “doing a gig”, what I presume he would do on occasions, and the following Sunday he was invited to attend this church. I recall on one occasion going for a walk in the bush in Sydney. Then, there is the experience of something out of the ordinary, something unusual. Moses saw the burning bush. For Kris, it was words of a preacher asking if anyone was feeling lost. For me, it was a sense of presence, that someone was walking with me. Next comes the call. Moses was commanded to return to Egypt and tell Pharoah to set the Israelites free. Kris was asked to come to front of the church. I sensed a voice speaking within myself, urging me to take on the call to be a missionary. For the Kris the experience brought an immense sense of forgiveness; for me, it was a sense of conviction. Kris wrote a song; I finally decided to become a missionary priest.
One of the verses of Kris’ song goes “I can show someone else what I’ve been through myself, on my way back to you.” Almost sounds missionary. I am sure Moses would have resonated with Kris’ question “why me Lord?” I know I certainly do. But, in the end, there is an immense feeling of gratitude when I think of the journey I have undertaken since that “burning bush” experience.
Fr Tom Rouse - in Napier, New Zealand
We are thankful to our companions on mission because, without your prayerful and financial support, we could not continue to work in the various places around the world where we journey with people who struggle at times, to make sense of life or to deepen their faith, to make ends meet or to stand for justice. We are indeed all called to mission and, at various times in our lives, we probably ask the question, “Why me Lord?”
Fr Tom Rouse - Regional Councillor of Oceania
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