Sunday seems to be a good day for ADHD musings. Today being Pentecost Sunday somewhat inevitably means that we spent a bit of time thinking about the Holy Spirit. As usual there was one comment that led my brain on a merry stroll down the garden path through the hedge and round the park. ... I'm not entirely sure where it is now, but it seems to be enjoying itself and will hopefully be back when I need it for work tomorrow.
The comment that got me started was along the lines of "a lot of people find talking about the Holy Spirit uncomfortable". And I guess that for many people its true, after all it is not terribly British is it ... at least some aspects are not. However, that's not the case for me. I had initially thought that maybe I'm quite comfortable with talking about the Holy Spirit because I have been somewhat ecumenically diverse. It is only relatively recently that I have identified as being a Methodist, and in the past have been a Baptist, a Pentecostal, and even an Anglican. But I have recently begun to wonder if at least part of the reason I am comfortable is related to ADHD.
Most people are quite comfortable with the idea of the Spirit bringing a sense of peace, that we can't really explain. I often feel that peace, and it has, at times, led me to take a rather laid back approach to life. I was once told that if I was any more laid back I'd be horizontal! It was not meant as a compliment. I'm pretty confident that peace doesn't come from me, because that's just not how my brain works.
The imagery I am most comfortable with is of the Holy Spirit as a Wild Goose, wild, untamed and upsetting the status quo. It is uncomfortable and unpredictable, unconstrained and uncontainable. Its little wonder that most people find this unsettling. But for me this is just another day in my head, particularly when it comes to issues of injustice and oppression.
If you have ever been walking by a calm lake or canal, maybe a few ducks and other birds paddling around, and suddenly there is a massive commotion as a flock of Geese puts in an appearance, disturbing the apparent serenity of the scene . It often takes a while before things calm down. No sooner have things calmed down than they are off again, leaving a scene which is similar, but which has changed in some undefinable way.
This is kind of the way it feels for me whenever I encounter injustice. I feel have to speak out and act, even when it is uncomfortable and unwelcome. The thing is this is quite a regular occurrence for me and I was recently surprised to discover that this might be part of a little known trait of ADHD. Justice Sensitivity.
Whether it’s triggered by societal injustice or small inequities, justice sensitivity causes you to perceive unfairness and wrongdoing in the world more frequently — and to feel it more acutely — than do neurotypical peers.
To be honest, I had been worried that I was over sensitive, after all most people around me didn't react as strongly to injustice. Because of this it is almost impossible for me to simply walk past someone begging in a shop doorway. I also find myself frequently angry when Government policies lead to the persecution and marginalization of people due to poverty, health inequality, race or sexuality. (to name a few)
When I talk about some of these issues in church groups it often feels like I am more passionate about social justice than many people around me, to the point that I have been told it makes people uncomfortable as they just want to hear a message of comfort. The sad thing is that so many resources on ADHD advise you to avoid topics and situations where you are sensitive to injustice. I can't and won't do this. It is too important to me.
I don't know how much of this is ADHD and justice sensitivity and how much is the Holy Spirit. I suspect that there is at least a little of both at work. It may be that I so often experience the peace I mentioned at the beginning because that is what I need in order to be able to function in a world full of injustice. Maybe I need the peace that only the spirit can bring to see all the beauty that is also there. It may be that for others the reverse is the case.
Obviously I am not claiming to speak for everyone with ADHD here, this is entirely my experience and I know that may differ from that of other people. But it is an intriguing thought, that maybe ADHD and justice sensitivity are an important part of the person God created me to be!
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