“You’re So Vain, You Prob’ly Think This Song is About You”

In 1971, Carly Simon wrote “You’re So Vain,” (you probably sang “you prob’ly think this song is about you,” didn’t you?) about a man named David (many have speculated which famous Dave this could be). In the same light, I’ve had people on Social Media accuse me of writing something aimed directly at them (though, admittedly, in the past I’ve done little blurbs about things I’ve seen, but not targeted at anyone specifically). At times, I’ve felt as if someone has said or written something aimed at me, but I’ve come to realize something about this phenomena: when I feel this way, God’s trying to get my attention!

When I hear “Preacher, have you been reading my diary? Do you have a hidden camera in my house?”, or even when people complain about me “talking about them” on Social media, I point to the conviction of the Holy Spirit: If we know God’s trying to get our attention, we’ll either double down on the wrong, or, as Nat King Cole sang, “straighten up and fly right.” If someone says something that convicts you, or you feel you’re being targeted, before getting up in arms, ask “God, what’s going on that I need to fix?” God is calling us to holiness, every single one of us. We’re called to model our lives after Christ, to obey His word, and to follow godly example. When we’re convicted, we should feel the pain or grief of it, but only so far as to accept correction. Life is not about us, but God wants to shape us to be like His Son. It’s easier if we stop struggling, and listen.

John 16:4b-24

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.