The Power of Autism

            Asperger’s syndrome. It’s what I live with. Some call it a disability. I, on the other hand, call it a super power. Sure it has its ups and downs, but hey! I’m stuck with it and might as well make the best of it.

            For instance, there are all those times when I separate myself socially from my fellow peers, which many with asperger’s syndrome tend to do. Now, as I sit there quiet as a mouse, you don’t honestly think that I just turn my brain off altogether, do you? Yeah, well, I don’t. Instead, I make the best of it. I take the opportunity to learn about the ones talking. I breathe in various details such as their opinions, mottos, religion, and basically anything that you can imagine.

            I mean, it is pretty effective. That just happened to be how I first learned about Chris Brown hitting his lady friend, for crying out loud! Then, just a few months ago, I learned about the opinions that a few other high school students had about his offense by using the exact same strategy. These opinions ranged everywhere from why he hit Rihanna to whether or not he should have hit her. All that put short, I make the best of my disability. I take the seeds that I have difficulty using and make far better trees than expected.

            However, surviving with autism is not always that easy. There are some seeds that are just more stubborn than others. Oh, and believe it or not, I find no better way of explaining this than by telling another life story. Don’t worry; This won’t be another story where Chris Brown gets mentioned.

            Anyhow, as I was about to say, I recently ran into a conflict that I truly don’t face all too often. I looked down on my disability. I actually considered it a curse. Now, like I said, that was the only time that I ever did so. I did, however, manage to come through… But only because of a wonderful BFF.

            I was in the school yearbook staff office during study hall trying to sell ad space in the yearbook. I had made several calls to businesses, and planned on calling several more. Finally, I was on the phone with Valley Forge Christian College trying to get them to put their own ad in the yearbook. Somehow, the admissions representative managed to switch the conversation from ads to I don’t know what. Unsure of what just happened, I signaled my BFF, and yearbook editor,  over for assistance. Unfortunately, the other end was disconnected before she could get to the phone.

            At that point, she suggested that I take a break from the calls. I did so and went over to a computer and laid my head down. I blamed my autism. In my mind, it had drifted from super power to disability. This was one seed that I thought would never take root.

            You know what happened next? Do you have even the slightest clue? Exactly! My true friend and role model came to my aid. It was one talk I will never forget.

            She said that even she would have made the same mistake. It had nothing to do with whether or not I was labeled disabled or handicapped. She said that even though I may have stumbled that day, I still did a lot for the yearbook. I made doodles to go on the inside pages; I even did an outstanding job on my assigned pages.

            Boy, oh boy! Did that sprout the seed or what? You bet it did. It just comes to show that you cannot always get by without assistance… Especially not when looking down on your super power. That is the honest to goodness truth.

            Do you know what else makes challenges a lighter breeze? Self-determination. Dang! Do you know how many situations I have come upon that have required self-determination? Yeah, well, fortunately for you, I will only be mentioning one of them.

            Actually, I have not yet decided on which experience to share. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to ponder the topic. Hmm… That’s not too bad of a model. Here you have it: The final illustration.

            The setting? Israel in October 2008. I was there with others from my church, including my father. We were going up the ramparts belonging to the walls of Old Jerusalem. There is an old city and a new city. Don’t get them mixed up.

            As I was saying, I had started going up the steps with the rest of the crew. I did, however, eventually come to a halt. There I was, looking downward. The problem? I’m an acrophobic. In simpler terms, I am afraid of heights.

            As I stood there, gripping my brown fedora in fright, I was provided with some help. You see, a few days before, I’d had another height problem. The team that time had suggested singing a song. The one I had chosen was “Amazing Grace.” So, this time the team started singing that very same song to me. I then joined in and started to gradually make my way up.

            All these years, God has been provided me with what I need in order to get through each and every day. Whether it’s friends or self-determination, He’s got it ready and on hand. Asperger’s syndrome. It’s what I live with. Some call it a disability. I, on the other hand, call it a super power.