A Love That Never Fails

A few weeks ago, quite a few bloggers posted about something that hurt autistic people and those who care about them. If you were unaware, if you Googled “autistic people should" a few weeks ago (I believe it has since changed), the autofill feature came up with phrases such as “be killed,” “be eradicated,” and “be cured.”

As someone who was diagnosed with Aspergers, a form of autism, twice in the past few months, seeing this and hearing about it hurt me deeply. To me, having Aspergers is a gift, not a negative thing. In fact, I love that it makes me see the world differently. I love that I am obsessed with numbers and patterns. I love that I think of different songs all day and that I have a neverending database in my head, every day, all day long. I love that I notice the details of everything around me. I love that I sometime stare at trees because I am obsessed with the fractal patterns of their branches.

I love it because it is part of what makes me ME.

Yes, there are difficulties that I have to “deal with” as someone with Aspergers. But everyone has difficulties. Everyone has struggles they have to overcome.

Thinking about this on my way home from church tonight, one of my favorite movie scenes came to my mind.

We are all human beings and as God’s children, I believe that we all deserve to be told how unique we are, how precious we are in this world.

You are loved.

There is a God who loves you unconditionally. You do not have to do anything in particular to deserve His love. You cannot earn it. His love is given without conditions. No strings attached. No hidden fees. No fine print. He created you and He loves you as one of His beautiful creations.

You are wonderfully and fearfully made.

There is no one like you on this earth. While there are other people that may be like you, there is absolutely no one exactly like you. You are created differently from anyone who has ever lived on this earth, in the past, in the present and in the future. You are you. And that means the world because you have a unique perspective, a unique voice.

So what do I believe that people with autism should do?

I believe people with autism should do and deserve the same things that I believe every other human beings should do and deserve. After all, autism is a label. It is not the people who are diagnosed with it.

Every human being should be loved.

Every human being deserves to be loved and cared for.

Every human being deserves to be listened to and to have a voice.

Every human being deserves to be cherished and appreciated.

Every human being deserves to be accepted, not just tolerated.

Every human being deserves to be helped when they need help.

Every human being deserves to be protected from putdowns and bullying.

Every human being deserves to be protected from injustice.

Every human being deserves to feel peace and to live in a peaceful place.

Every human being deserves to be who they are.

In the past few months, I have had bouts of stuttering and spasms. During those bouts, I had to walk around town and take buses. There were quite a few people who stared and some even laughed. At first, it hurt me deeply that people would laugh at something that I could not control, something that embarrassed me on a deep level.

But over time, I realized that they did not know everything that I am dealing with, everything that I have had to deal with to get to where I am and why I was having the physical symptoms. Slowly, my anger and hurt turned into forgiveness. During the bouts, I started to repeat over and over in my head, “Forgive them for they do not know what they do.”

Jesus said those words on the cross, as he was being killed by those who he loved so deeply.

Jesus came to heal and transform people on a personal level, but also on a worldly level. He broke many of the traditions of the society of his day. He loved the outcasts; in fact, he searched them out. He did not turn away anyone. He welcomed those whom everyone else wanted to turn away. He talked to those who no one else wanted to talk to. He did not hate anyone. While some people might have frustrated him, he always showed love towards everyone.

Whether you believe in Jesus or not, I hope that before you judge anyone that you interact with, that you stop and think. The next time you want to judge someone, imagine that the person you are interacting with is living through the worst day of his or her life. You never know… By showing a little kindness towards someone or doing a random act of kindness, you could truly transform that person’s life.

I want to end this blog with one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It is quoted often during sermons about love, but it talks about unconditional love in such a great way.

As a world, we need to strive to show everyone the kind of love that is explained in this passage. No matter who you are. No matter what you have done. No matter what you have not done. No matter where you are from. No matter what you believe in. Love is the most powerful thing we have in this world…

Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, 

it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. 

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)