Originally published 3.9.17
Dearest readers
No doubt you've been relinked by me to read this. Underneath is my thought for the day for 3.9.17. The Square Pegs film I talk about is linked here. I am in no way affiliated with Square Pegs, but was very much touched by this and this helped inspire and give the final "push" to this piece.
tc
-krysiawally
Thank you Mike and thank you for asking me to do thought for the day today! I’m used to talking for much longer so I hope I can keep to time. While I was considering what to talk about, yesterday I was at the Tizard Centre yearly conference in Canterbury and the short film ‘Square Pegs: This is me’ was shown. It is a short film exploring young people’s stories and experience of difference and ended with a song. One lyric of the song stood out to me: I’m different and I’m perfect - and it clicked, not only what I wanted to share but also into some of the other thoughts I have recently had and shared on my autism blog, which is funnily enough 1 year old today.
Different, unique and perfect in our creation is how we were created. As Genesis 1:27 says, God created man in his own image, thus meaning there is not one group of people of individuals that are made more in God's image than another group. Not only does this encompass ethnicity or gender, but neurology and difference, which here does encompass and include autism. An an autistic person I find this comforting in a world in which can dictate to me that I am less, I am broken or I am wrong. It comforts me that though I may feel this and that I am in fact one part of the reflection of God’s people here on earth. God is beyond anyone we could imagine - he surpasses boxes and society’s constructs.
Jesus furthermore presented an antidote to society’s distaste for those who were dirty, broken or imperfect through his mere choosing to be with these people. It makes me think, do Christians encounter and engage with disability in the way that Jesus did: open arms, listening to them, letting them decide what they want him to do in terms of company and healing and treating everyone with respect. Do we do that? Surely an aspirational model, but actually one that we should aim towards.
Going back to the Square Pegs film, I can imagine Jesus having tears rolling down his face as the young people spoke: speaking of isolation, bullying, misunderstanding, not been seen for the amazing and unique people they are, with a myriad of interests, hobbies and talents. Without a doubt. Jesus most famous teaching is for us in John 13 - Love one another as I have loved you. Part of showing love is breaking through the stigma and judgement and seeing people for people. Treating with compassion, empathising through listening and learning and not showing the same front as other parts of society may do.
I don’t think the church talks about disability and difference enough and speaking as an autistic person, I yearn for the day that the church truly stands up for those society sees as less and beyond and hope in my academic work I can help this happen.
