On Wednesday I attended an online seminar entitled ‘The Difference Theology Makes to Autism Diagnoses and Neurodiversity’, led by Christian theologian Joanna Deidenhag. Having spent many years in school engaged with children’s special and additional needs, it was good to approach autism from a different perspective.
We considered the characteristics of autism, particularly the challenges that those with autism face in social engagement and interaction, in understanding others and how to relate to them… and how they may understand a God portrayed as relational.
I was watching the lunch-time news. There was a commotion in the hallway. I investigated. A pigeon had flown in through the open back door, through the kitchen and was noisily flapping, trying to escape through the front door.
‘You can’t get out that way.’ I said. ‘Please go out the way you came in.’ To my surprise he stopped flapping, turned round, walked past me towards the kitchen, took off and flew away through the open back door!
Perhaps he understood me!
Yesterday evening we watched the Seagull Youth Theatre perform Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. There was the island… magic, betrayal, forgiveness… Prospero the one-time Duke of Milan, Miranda his beautiful daughter, Ariel the sprite, Caliban the wild man…
Thom did an excellent job directing. Costumes, setting and lighting were creative. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
What was most impressive was the young people themselves – attempting Shakespeare for the first time. They’d prepared well, acted well, spoke well; above all they demonstrated that they understood the characters and Shakespeare’s script.
Yesterday I was reflecting on George Muller who created homes for thousands of Bristol’s orphans in Victorian times. Muller would pray for food at mealtimes and food would arrive. He would never ask for money; he never was in debt.
The Daily Telegraph wrote that Müller ‘had robbed the cruel streets of the thousands of victims, the gaels (jails) of thousands of felons, and the workhouses of thousands of helpless waifs.’
They understood Muller’s achievements. Muller understood the children’s needs and his God.
malcolmsmusings.org 