Sensitiveness by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 21, 1913

Sensitiveness

By Editor

EXTREME sensitiveness is overweening selfishness coupled with great weakness. Sensitiveness, we mean, which is always imagining personal slights, neglects, or insults. Surmise is ever fruitful with such. “Why, Brother A did not speak to me this morning;” “Brother B just nodded when I spoke to him last night;” “Sister C has been talking about me; for I saw her talking with Sister D and they looked over toward me and laughed; they must have been laughing at me;” “I am not appreciated and trusted.” So it goes, and the poor soul is constantly more or less miserable brooding over a supposed something that some one thought or some one said, that some one never thought or never said or never had a thought of saying or thinking.

If the sensitive individual did not think so much of self, he would not care what folks said, without imagining that they did say what they didn’t say. If they were strong in character, had strong faith in God, or were absorbed in their legitimate work, they would have no time for surmises. If they did their own legitimate work first and sought some greater thing later, they would find it a blessing of strength. Legitimate work close at hand, even tho made up of common, menial tasks, is work for God if done aright, and a mighty comforter of the smaller hurts of life.

Let the sensitive get a view of his own sinful heart and his own mental incapacity; let him get a love for others, a disposition to do the work which God would be pleased with, faith that God will do just what is right whatever man may do or say, and the sensitiveness will depart and strength will come. After all, what does it matter what men may say if we are doing what is right? “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Now do not say, “The editor had me in mind when he wrote that.” Be assured he did not. But if its truth touches you, let it do its work.