My Encounter With An Enigma

Encountering

I wrote this years ago during my first experience with a person on the autism spectrum. I was taking summer classes at The University of Pittsburgh. There was a group of us that meant at the cafeteria for our meals. A beautiful young lady came in almost every day and sat by herself, constantly reacting in shock to every sound. Most of the members of our group took notice of her and decided to invite her to join us. I was the first to approach her and after a week or so, developing a friendly relationship she agreed to join the group. One meal together and she disappeared. At that time 1970s Autism wasn’t a thing that people knew about.

My Encounter With An Enigma

Today I am confused
With things that cannot confuse
I am lost in familiar territory
For well I know
The darkness of despair and loneliness
I have seen the forest of the forgotten

I know the torture if being different
The torture of being recognized
As the person with problems
By people who could not care less about me

By the people I know are laughing and whispering
Behind my back and around the corner
I have been in this place before
I have left, and I have returned

I would leave again, if I wanted to
I know the way out of this depressing place
A very long time ago someone was kind enough
To show me the way out.

Praise be to that person
And the God, My Lord that created her
But what am I to do now
My soul is very troubled

For I have seen another person
Lost in the same place I once was.
I cannot leave them here
And return myself to the beauty of people

Without denying an obligation to
The person that once helped me up
And asked only that I remember
That when I was in the depths of depression

Someone helped me up
And in that I had received from them
I should also give to others in need

But I do not know how to communicate
With the person I have found
Every attempt brings simultaneous
Loving response and withdrawal

I do not want to frighten her
And her fractured self that retreats
Ever deeper into the maze of solitude
Her cries of anguish call out to me

Oh God

In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord
Give me strength to stay and help this person
Give me the wisdom to know what to do
Increase my faith that I might give you glory

And if I am only to be a
A lighthouse along the way
Let my light shine to help
This beauty loose a little fear

Amen
Thank You