…Reflections…

Some weeks ago, I went out with a friend and I saw an autistic man, he should be over 50 years of age. He had to be guided to sit, and all. His drink was brought half full. Many people seemed to know him in the area and to care about him but inadvertently, each person spoke to him condescendingly.
When my friend had to leave me at the table briefly, the man’s friend also had to attend to some things, and providence brought him to sit at my table! I was worse than those who spoke condescendingly. I couldn’t even speak! I was afraid of shaking the table, afraid of distracting him, afraid of him falling off the chair and afraid of … and afraid…
It was not my first time of seeing an autistic person, but the first time of seeing an old man in that situation. I immediately imagined the wife he’s never had. I imagined that his mum may have passed on now and that life could have become more difficult for him. I imagined what it would be like for him to cook, to shower, to wear his clothes, to live without earning, etc.
I got in some days back and peeped at Facebook. An old classmate of mine posted a video: 10-year-old blind autistic boy sings Open the Eyes of My Heart. I had to see it… and immediately!
He was walked to the stage with his collapsible walking stick in one hand. He was looking down while walking. He was truly blind with his eyelids seeming to cover sockets rather than eyes. He kept oscillating while standing. The mic stand had to be taken out of the way for him. And not seeing, he started the song facing one direction and ended it facing another direction.
But he sang; with life, with meaning, with zest. He was born in 2001.
Trawling YouTube I found many other videos of Christopher Duffley. He had been singing for quite some time! Once he played the piano to accompany himself!
Two references came to mind:
1) None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:8)
2) “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no…” (Luke 13:2,3)
Many times when the devil seems to have scored a grave and great point, God turns the table, bringing it to such an end as that of Joseph: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Gen 50:20).
But my perspective changed! An autistic person is not a hopeless, helpless person. Yes, his options are limited, but what he needs is not pity but support!