"Autism...is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).   Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests."

One of the most amazing things about Dr. Grandin is that she learned to use her "disability" or "challenge" to find a way to listen to what the animals in barnyards had to say to her. Okay, so her approach is not a Dr. Doolittle approach where she can hear the animals in human voices, but instead she listens to the animals by paying attention. Dr. Grandin not only pays attention to the stress showing in an animals face but she is quite willing when called out to inspect a farm with problems, to crawl through the mud, under fences, into slaughter pens to discover what in the environment causes the animal to be distressed. Dr. Grandin was able to realize that her way of thinking was similar to an animal's way of thinking and in that manner, she is able to translate an animal's fear or needs into positive action (her book Animals In Translation discusses this in detail). Most people are amazed that this woman has not only discovered her ability to translate and understand an animal's communication but also how she has risen above her challenges that keep most from living life to its fullest. Dr. Grandin understands a basic premise that all of our religions mystics understood and that is, to communicate does not always mean having words. Communication and in this instance, prayer, is a means of listening and responding. Dr. Grandin listens with her eyes and other senses to an animal's distress and then responds to correct the problem.

To pray is to listen and respond. Dr. Grandin can show us important ways to talk to and listen to God. As we discovered in the definition above, autism shows itself as "problems with verbal and nonverbal communication." When we come into the presence of the Holy (God, Allah, Jehovah, Buddha) we are all faced at times with " problems with verbal and nonverbal communication." Makes sense if you ever read of the normal human being's response to angels and God showing up in person, "they were greatly afraid" or the story tells how a holy man or woman lost the ability to communicate.Coming into the presence of authority figures can cause the same inability to communicate verbally or nonverbal. At this point, when there are no words but there is a problem needing resolution, think "listen" first.

In a society that is daily bombarded with radio waves, iPods, television and all other types of media mixed with with the noise pollution of cars, machines and crowds, it is easy to forget how to listen. We are so accustomed to "listening" with our ears to all the different noises that we forget that to listen is a way of paying attention not only with our ears, but with our eyes and all of our senses. When we listen with all of our senses is when we truly start to "hear", not just noise but meanings and solutions. The first step of prayer is to listen. Listen to what is happening inside, listen to the problem. Listen to the words but also the visions you see around you. Listen first and do not respond until you are sure that you have the information.

Dr. Grandin is often called in as a consultant. A farmer has difficulty getting the cattle to go through gates. Grandin goes out to the farmer and listens to the story of the problem. Then she goes to the problem area and listens with her eyes to the cattle's story. As mentioned before, sometimes she will get down on the ground and crawl through a pen herself if the problem is not obvious. When all else fails, she gets down on the ground looking up to see what is amiss, what needs changing, what is causing the fear. When challenges arise, problems persist, stop and listen. Listen first with your ears, your heart but then listen again with your eyes. Be willing to get down on the ground and crawl around with the problem, hearing it in new ways.

Listening is not the end of the journey, responding is the next step. Dr. Grandin is often surprised at how simple a solution is when she goes out to speak with farmers, breeders and other large animal industry folk. In one story she mentions how the cattle would not go through a loading chute and immediately she saw the problem. A worker had hung a yellow coat on a post where the cattle could see it and it cause the cattle to be afraid. If the workman had continued to leave the coat on the post the cattle would never have chosen to go through the chute. Once the coat was removed, the problem was resolved. Problems in life are not always so easily removed or changed, what matters however is that when a problem is recognized, the next step is action. Always it's prayer/listening first and then informed action last.

Dr. Grandin is an example for spiritual growth, not only because of her ability to listen and respond to animals' and human needs, but she is also a good example of the many ways that we can serve each other in modes that have not always been "typical" or understood as common. In her book, Animals in Translation, she admits that she is much more comfortable with animals than humans. Yet, rather than allow her limitations to restrict her contribution to society and the world, rather than hide in her house or room, she chooses to rise above and turn her limitations into talents. Dr. Grandin has not only worked to further the humane treatment of animals in farming and in the food processing industry, she has written books telling her story of autism thereby giving us a gifted and talented face to put on a new challenge, one that our world calls a "disorder." Dr. Grandin in telling her story and telling the story of the animals who need her, doe not negate the fact that she has a biological disorder. This article is not to disclaim autism as a true challenge facing many children and adults. What Dr. Grandin shows us however is that each and every person is a gift. Regardless of a person's limitation, each person is a gift. Rather than living a life of disorder, Grandin shows us that when we listen and respond, when we trust ourselves and the giftedness within, we bring order to chaos and that always is sacred, holy and good.