ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Ann Memmott, national and international adviser on inclusion for churches, with a focus on disability, autism and other neurodiversities

Good morning

One of my favourite Bible passages is in Deuteronomy 32, which talks of God protecting us as the apple of his eye….

In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,

The phrase has come to mean a loving gaze, but the ‘apple’ originally meant the pupil of the eye, the bit through which we see and which is vital for vision.

Gazing into one another’s eyes may convey a host of messages and emotions. A way to signal affirmation, listening, caring, or perhaps sometimes even a stare of disapproval. But in autistic social signalling, which is naturally different, to stare into someone’s eyes is often considered disrespectful, and, for many autistic people, it is overwhelming. For so many years, autistic people, like me were misunderstood, and those around us thought that a failure to look people in the eye was a sign that we had no interest in others, no empathy. In reality, whilst others are talking, we’re often listening and scanning the horizon for danger, to keep them and ourselves safe. Every bit as loving, but different. It’s good to work alongside so many others nationally who are now exploring this, and many other misunderstood realities.

So, what do we make of God gazing on us, with love, with care, with approval or indeed some dismay (depending of course on what we’re doing or thinking at the time)? For me, it is a joy; I know God doesn’t need me to gaze back.

God eternal, whose gaze falls on all that you have created, bless us and keep us in safety and peace, this day and always.

Amen.

Show less