It just so happens that this particular Tuesday is World Autism Awareness Day. While I think it's a great cause to raise awareness for autism and especially to raise resources to research it, I believe there's another angle to it for believers. In addition to asking if we are aware of autism, maybe a further question is, "What does autism make us aware of?" There are a few things, the first being...
1. The Autism Spectrum makes us aware of the iridescent creative spectrum of God.
God creates beautiful beings because his creation in some part reflects his person. Michael is beautiful and complex, and sometimes I see things in his personality that show me a clearer picture of God than when interacting with others. I am thankful for God's vibrant creativity and manifold wisdom in creating people with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and although it reminds us of God's beautiful personality...
2. Autism reminds us that we live in a broken world.
Our world is not in a perfected state. Disease and disorders are rampant. Death is inevitable. Moral corruption is deceptively deep. Natural disasters abound. Wars are unceasing. Autism is one disorder among many that brings to the forefront of our minds that this world is broken, but…
3. We have hope in a future glory that is brighter and longer than this brief dim life.
Romans 8:18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Basically, Paul says that when Christ is revealed in all His glory, we will no longer grieve these temporary sufferings (though they seem constant and relentless now). Our present awareness of autism should press us to ponder the total joy and satisfaction we will feel when in the presence of the unwavering and full display of Christ's glory. But this apex of glory has trailings that begin in this life because...
4. God's works are often displayed on the canvas of autism.
In John 9, Jesus' disciples ask why a man was blind. They wanted to know if it was the result of sin. Jesus' answer is intriguing and insightful. He says that the man was blind "so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3). That means the blindness was merely a stage set for the story of God to be told. The story of his healing would direct his own soul and others' Godward.
God’s glory is on display through autism, and I pray these few short thoughts turn your soul Godward as you observe His handiwork in your friends or family who live with it.