He's a poet, he's a picker... he's Kris Kristofferson

Photograph by Debbie Finch, 2010. All rights reserved.

I am not your typical celebrity hound. I practice law. I'm married. I've got daughter. I've got a life. But for reason's unknown to me,  I strongly identify with the words of a modern day poet and social activist named Kris Kristofferson.  So when I heard he was going to be in Nashville last weekend, I knew I had to be there.

On a Sunday morning, I made the four hour trek to Nashville.

Kristofferson was being honored at a public event, along with a few other folks. My Hubby and I walked in, found a seat under a fantastically blue sky and listened to a lone guitarist strumming instrumentals as we waited for the ceremony to begin.

And then there was Kristofferson. 

These days I feel like the lone ranger. I live in the Bible belt with a governor-elect who condemns homosexuals,  wants to enact Arizona-esque immigration "reform" and who has demanded  that Barack Obama produce his birth certificate.  It makes me angry and profoundly sad.  I don't recognize this country anymore. The words "America...it was supposed to stand for something" reverberate in my head often. I listen to fellow Americans talk about "taking our country back" and I know in my heart that it is my beliefs they hold in such disdain; I am one of the ones from whom they wish to take their country back from.  You know, one of those "liberal commies" who believes in justice for all, regardless of whether they live inside or outside of our borders.  

As  Kristofferson received his accolades that afternoon, there was a marked acceptance by the crowd of a man who has described himself as "left of liberal."   Later than evening, at the Ryman, I listened to the crowd boo at the mention of President Obama. I was appalled, and wondered what Kristofferson would have said or done if he had been on the stage at that time.  But, paradoxically, I later watched in awe and appreciation as that same crowd jumped to its feet to applaud and plead for "just one more" song from him as he finished his third and final song.

It was an honor to be in the presence of a gentle soul, who speaks powerful truths through his artistry,  his activism and through his words.  He inspires me to live authentically and to try and "perfect myself in my own peculiar way," as he so eloquently sings in Pilgrim's Progress.

Sometimes we all need a hero, someone to inspire us, someone to show us the way, so thank you, Kris Kristofferson, for being mine.