OVERLOAD!

Welcome everyone to Deeper Waters where we are diving into the ocean of truth. Lately, we’ve been acknowledging that it is Autism Awareness Month as I have been writing about Autism and Asperger’s from an insider’s perspective. Tonight, I would like to discuss what happens when we undergo what I often call sensory overload, although it can be just information of any kind.

My former roommate who was also the best man at my wedding and I once went to a Kingdom Hall together having had some Jehovah’s Witnesses visit us. Both of us have a strong love of apologetics and our Witness friends did not know about how we regularly debated doctrines like the Trinity against others. Going to the Kingdom Hall was certainly an experience. I have never seen such intense indoctrination as I did then.

However, when the “service”, if you can call it that, ended, we were love-bombed. All around us, all these Witnesses were coming to us and wanting to get to know us. Yesterday I wrote about touch and how a handshake could be the most someone requires of us. I still remember it like it was yesterday that I was being bombarded left and right by all these new people and I had someone’s hand in mind who was greeting me and my roommate had to say to me “Say your name.”

Now on some level, I knew I needed to do that, but I could just not somehow find the means to do that. It was as if I had been frozen in place. There have been times I’ve also experienced such overload on some social issues in receiving different opinions that I can just freeze in a kind of paralysis not knowing what do. Being an overly analytical personality can make this harder.

Also, being part of the working force, there are many times after a day that I am just exhausted and I do not think it is physical exhaustion that has worn me down. In fact, I would prefer to be physically exhausted. Instead, I have been having to exert myself over and over with meeting people and interacting with them. As a public speaker, that’s not a problem since in a way, you control the message, but when you are interacting on the generic level, it is much more difficult.

What does this mean for the Christian wanting to reach an Aspie? Remember that during a church service, it could be that the person you’re wanting to witness just needs some time away. Fellowship time at many church services could be very difficult for some. It isn’t for everyone. My church has a good fellowship time but there are still many times I prefer just sitting down and minding my own business.

If the Aspie you’re witnessing to is like this, that’s okay. Give them space. It could be that they’re on to something. Remember that Jesus many times went off to have some time of seclusion despite having a public ministry.

Again, it’s worth it for that person.