Faith

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We are a people who like to talk. And talk. And talk some more. This constant chattering gets to be--well, let's just say there are times when I just can't take any more and so I turn off all the noise and the endless chatter, and yes, I admit it, I will even tune out those around me who don't have an 'off' switch. There are times when I crave nothing more than absolute and total quiet.

My grandson Logan is autistic. We discovered this because as he neared his third birthday last October, he still wasn't talking. The specialists tell us that his autism is mild--that he is a highly intelligent, highly functioning individual. The autism is only presenting through his speech delay, and through the occasional temper tantrum he throws when none of us seem to be able to 'hear' him. I, as those of you who know me know, am fascinated by all people. One of my favorite activities is people watching. And Logan is my all time favorite subject. I can watch him for hours.

My daughter and I took Logan to see "Ice Age-The Meltdown" at the movies. One thing I was aware of was that while all the other kids were squirming and fidgeting, talking or crying, Logan was sitting absolutely still on his mom's lap, his eyes never leaving the screen as he watched the film. Before I knew what was coming next, Logan would silently shake his head and gasp as if he somehow anticipated what was about to happen. I didn't know but he did. I can't quite figure this out. If a character on a show cries or yells, Logan reacts to it as if he is there with that person or character. He can't distinquish yet between the real and the make-believe aspects of life. If he sees it--its real, and that's that. He studies the faces on TV and in magazines endlessly, looking for--what? I don't know but he seems to be searching for something. I suppose, because of the autism, he catagorizes things, such as, this is for school so I don't want to do this at home, or this is what I do at home so I don't want to do it at school, and he will get angry if you try to get him to repeat an action in a place other than the one he feels it belongs in.

He is learning sign language now, and putting a few words and phrases together in a vocalized way. He will 'talk' to me on the phone for a long time. I just don't understand most of what he says so I just say, "Oh really? Was it fun? Did you?" and stuff like that. But when I am with him, I understand him perfectly. No words necessary. He is able to tell me so much--I just know exactly what he is trying to communicate when I'm with him.

With God, no words are necessary either. You will have times when there is so much you need to communicate with Him but the words won't come. You are, quite simply, speechless. You can't seem to string the words together to make the sentence. Your soul is crying out, desperately trying to get His attention, yet your lips won't move, not your actual ones nor the ones in your heart and mind.

Relax. He already knows what you need and He knows what you're trying to say. He knows you; therefore, no words are necessary. He already hears you. He's already there. He's already taking care of your needs. So just blow out that air that has collected in your lungs and breathe freely now--you're being heard and attended to.

Just sit still and bask in the glory that is God. Revel in the knowledge that you have a friend who sticks closer to you than any other, that He doesn't need to hear your words to hear you.

Praise be to God! Let your soul, and your life reflect that--and no words are necessary!

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