As I've looked back over my work history, there has been one overwhelming feeling that comes up over and over again: shame. Since I entered the workforce in my 20s, my job history has been one of seemingly disappointing people. I never met people's expectations of me. It wasn't for lack of trying. If someone... Continue Reading →
The Frustrations and Limitations of An Aspie Pastor
As worship ended today, I felt a bit of frustration. I sometimes feel like I've failed to be a good pastor to my congregation. I think I've done the best that I can, but I also feel at times I'm failing them. It might be that I'm trying to live up to stories. Actually, it's... Continue Reading →
Walking Backwards with a Backpack of Bricks*
One of the difficulties of being a "high functioning" autistic is that it is in a way an invisible disability. For most people, when they look at someone like me, they see a "normal" person. Because they see a person that seems to act just like them, it makes it hard to understand when things... Continue Reading →
With A Heavy Heart…
On January 31, I got the phone call that you always dread, at the what I've been dreading for nearly 10 years- that call at 4 in the morning. Long story short, I learned that my father had died. As Daniel and I got ready to fly from Minnesota to Michigan, I left a text... Continue Reading →
Dennis Sanders, Sacrificial Lamb
So, a few days before Christmas, I found out that my position was eliminated due to budget cuts. Needless to say, I was devastated...and I still am a few weeks later. The sad thing is that this isn't the first time that this has happened to me. I've received layoff notices more than once. It's... Continue Reading →
Repost: Out of Place
Note: I wrote this earlier this year about relationships. One thing I'd like to add: tell people that you care for them or that you are their friend. For someone like me with autism it can make all the difference in the world. When I was in high school, I ran track. I didn't run... Continue Reading →
Stopping A Freight Train
I'm a little wary about writing this. The reason for my skittishness is that I don't want my frustrations to be misunderstood. But I think I need to try to find someway to share these frustrations; otherwise they will eat me alive. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a bit focused on new... Continue Reading →
Aspergers, Self-Esteem and God
I will be writing a blog post on partisanship and the church, but right now I need to chat about dealing with self-esteem when you are on the autistic spectrum. People with Aspergers especially deal with low self-esteem, partially because of being bullied and partially because we tend to isolate ourselves when we've been bullied. ... Continue Reading →
Reverend Loser
Every so often, more often than I'd like to admit, I get this feeling that I am a failure- especially when it comes to this pastor thing.
The Care and Feeding of Aspies
It's taken me a few years to realize how different I am from most of humanity. The thing about Asperger's is that you think your life is normal. What I see is my reality. But of course that is not how life works. I am different from others. And that difference can lead to some... Continue Reading →