I’m writing this post on autopilot due to exhaustion. Why do I not wait until I’m less tired and write then? The answer is simple. I don’t know when that will be and most likely I’ll forget what I want to say by the time it does happen.
I’m realizing how much work it is to be constantly explaining myself to people. I even have to explain myself to my fellow Aspies in my support group. That’s because I’m a lot older than most others there¹ and because I’m the only practicing Christian in the group that I’m aware of. Admittedly, in that environment, I do a heck of a lot less explaining than when dealing with the rest of the world.
Why must some people who think different feel like they have to explain themselves (seemingly all the time)? Why can’t such a person just live life like everyone else? I don’t think I need to explain that to other Aspies and/or parents of children on the autism spectrum.
Well, you can imagine then the surprise I got when reading today’s message from Oswald Chamber’s classic My Utmost for His Highest devotional.² All of what’s said is so true; especially→ “Beware of ‘the cares of this world,’ because they are the things that produce a wrong temper of soul.”
I never before realized that my constant habit of explaining myself goes against God’s will. It’s been referred to as being the lust of vindication. The effect it has is to destroy faith in God. No wonder then I feel so drained! I’ve been locked into that same temper of mind which says, “I must explain myself; I must get people to understand.” I never noticed that our Lord never explained anything; He left mistakes to correct themselves.
¹I’m the oldest regular member. It’s a different world now (too fast paced and chaotic) than it once was and young people have not lived long enough to know how things used to be. Plus, God’s wisdom can be confusing to those who are not saved from enjoying the lusts self has. God sure loves to destroy the pleasures of lust and replace them with something much better in His children.
²Keep in mind, if you’re following the link, the devotional will be for the current day. So, if you want to read the whole message for November 23rd, you need to go the navigator and choose that date.
