A different variety in the Body of Christ.
Fellowship sure is a slice of heaven isn't it? Talking to people from different backgrounds and cultures LIKE US, knowing how a conversation goes LIKE US, knowing when it's time to move on in a conversation or finish it LIKE US, reading people's facial expressions and picking up on social cues LIKE US.
You got that right? We love the variety of people in church but do we forget about a possible forgotten variety of God's people- the neurodiverse brothers and sisters in Christ?
A new lady is coming to our church- always in the same colurful polka dot jacket- she clearly has autism, gets gently triggered by things we wouldn't think twice about, has sensory processing issues and back to the first point cannot pick up on social cues or mirror/read faces.
My wife and I were waiting to go out with a friend who was talking to our pastor about membership and the lady stayed, not sensing the pastor's wife had a few things to be getting on with, so we made sure to offer support and talk to her.
Is it exhausting talking to neurodiverse people who can't pick up on cues, etc? Yes. Should we still view it as a slice of heaven? Yes, just as much as fellowshipping with our "normal" brothers and sisters in Christ.
We must never forget that Christ holds dear his neurodiverse saints and that he shed his blood for them too and has the same love for them, that he has for us.
You got that right? We love the variety of people in church but do we forget about a possible forgotten variety of God's people- the neurodiverse brothers and sisters in Christ?
A new lady is coming to our church- always in the same colurful polka dot jacket- she clearly has autism, gets gently triggered by things we wouldn't think twice about, has sensory processing issues and back to the first point cannot pick up on social cues or mirror/read faces.
My wife and I were waiting to go out with a friend who was talking to our pastor about membership and the lady stayed, not sensing the pastor's wife had a few things to be getting on with, so we made sure to offer support and talk to her.
Is it exhausting talking to neurodiverse people who can't pick up on cues, etc? Yes. Should we still view it as a slice of heaven? Yes, just as much as fellowshipping with our "normal" brothers and sisters in Christ.
We must never forget that Christ holds dear his neurodiverse saints and that he shed his blood for them too and has the same love for them, that he has for us.
