What If … Savants are the Normal Ones

JASONPI720_ma.jpgRecently, I read an article about a college dropout who became a savant (remember from the movie “Rain Man”) following a brain injury.  You can read the article here:  Jason Padgett is only one of 40 people who have Acquired Savant Syndrome, meaning he was not born this way.

Padgett’s savant ability allows him to see mathematical prisms and geometrical forms that few people even understand let alone have the ability to perceive.  Even stirring the cream in his coffee reveals fractal or logarithmic spirals.  Then he accurately draws these images, geometrically verifying complicated math equations.  The picture shown is one such drawing of pi. (Who said you would never use those math classes again….)

Padgett’s newly acquired abilities pose an interesting question for us.  What if savant-like intelligence lies dormant inside our brains?  What if you are a concussion away from such genius?  (I’m not saying that you should get a concussion to find out.  Most of the time concussions cause temporary or even permanent damage to the brain.)

Rather, the question has spiritual implications.  God created humans in His image and as such it stands to reason that significant intelligence would be part of the package.  Since our genealogical coding stems from Adam and Eve, their level of intelligence would have to be superior to all.  But what if eating the forbidden fruit and getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden meant they could no longer see nor understand the beauty of the universe?

Perhaps a veil of confusion was placed of the heads of Adam and Eve inhibiting them from seeing the majestic prisms like Padgett.  Perhaps Padgett’s abilities are more in line with how humans were originally created and it is us, the “normal” ones, who are really abnormal.  I don’t know about you, but this concept is more in keeping with the God that I know.

Rules, rules and more rules

Do you find yourself getting caught up in excessive rules? Maybe the initial reason for them was good but now it is out if control. Hear these verses from Colossians.


Sometimes the rules serve a good purpose but other times these rules can be do more harm than good. Rules have a way of making us look good on the outside because they require self-control. But instead they create a smoke screen to distract from the real problems underneath. Problems of addiction, unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, gossip, pride, envy, manipulation, and deceit are often beneath the surface of excessive rules.

Good counseling addresses these problems beneath the surface by pointing to the healing that can only come from Christ Jesus. Don’t settle for another set of rules, work to resolve the problems underneath the surface and discover the gift of freedom given to you by Christ.