Can any of you hear what he is telling you at all? Some of you are so damn preoccupied with taking Spikes matter, which is serious to HIM, and making a big hairy deal of it. You want to nit pick and jab with your little comments and accusations, without so much as offering him some real counsel, which is what he is trying to receive,
He is telling you, he has a problem.
He is telling you he wants advice.
He is telling you he isn't getting any answers from the ones he thought would help him. (elders)
He is telling you he wants our help. (Poor guy must be desperate to ask the likes of some of you here in this form!)
He is telling you he has Aspergers. Has anybody looked it up, or know someone who has this condition? If not I'll tell you: people with Aspergers do not fit into OUR MOLD. In fact they resent it because many times it makes no sense to them, therefore they come across as not making any sense to us. I know two people like Spike, and I will tell you that they both are two of the finest people I know. Different? Oh, hell yeah! They are...but I like to find special time to sit and talk with them whenever I get a chance because I know they possess a depth of knowledge and understanding of certain things that us 'normal' people can't even touch.
One drawback to Aspergers: they often get in a 'rut', and they hate to deviate and change. What is already familiar to them is going to STAY that way. They have a routine, and you better not upset it cos it throws them off track. Now all the things he held as true from his experience with JW’s is making him question himself, and the teachings. We all know what THAT is like, don’t we? With Aspergers, this is further compounded and is magnified much more.
People like Spike have good intentions. They take things seriously too. If they are told a certain thing is a certain way, and begin to get used to it, it better be that way or their whole concept and understanding get all mixed up and then they have to ask "How come" and why isn't it the way it should be" and so many other questions. They cannot get this out of their heads. You can die before you get them to see things differently. Here is a brief summary of Aspergers:
" Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with AS may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with AS perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".
This is but one description.
Now can you Jr. High level forum members who cannot seem to resist the urge to throw verbal spears at people just leave that part of you out of this equation for just a little bit? I know it's tough.
Spike: For what it is worth....In the very center of your Bible is your answer. This passage from the Psalms will tell you where to get your counsel from: Psalms 118:8
You have been told to trust the word of your elders, who are men. You have been told that they are your direct line to Chris and God. I tell you no, my friend, these men are not. And there are some that do not want you to have that direct communication with God, because it will take their job and purpose away.
You must be able to see God away from the Kingdom Hall Spike. You will know when you see God outside the Kingdom Hall. You will feel Him inside your chest, right around your heart area, and it will feel light and happy there. I doubt you have felt that in a very long time, have you?
Once you find your direct connection with God, then Jesus will see to it you and Him are communicating. But this cannot happen until you open your heart space, that place for God to make Himself known to you. It's closed otherwsie and God will politely stay outside until you invite Him in, in the name of Jesus.
You can make all your decisions by feeling what that space feels like. For instance, you want to date a girl you like and are thinking you might do something wrong in the eyes of the elders and get in trouble. Go directly to God, through Jesus and see what He has to say about your wanting to spend time with this lady. Go ahead, ask God yourself. And every time one of those thoughts about the elders comes in, blow it off. and let God inside you instead.
The goal of the WTS is to have control of your thoughts and feelings, but I tell you Spike, those thoughts and feelings belong to God and a man has no right to take them from you.
I say follow your heart.
