In finding us you've finally found a place where you are pretty normal; and that should be a BIG gain. I hope you find this board to be as valuable to you as I have for me.

Assuming you gave up on teaching voluntarily and not because of an offence, I think you are underestimating the value of that experience in some employer's eyes; it's a solid qualification that fits well with your Master's; and there's always the option of private tuition - a massive market because parents have lost confidence in teachers. I'm quite surprised that you were ever encouraged to consider teaching: Asperger's would be a huge problem for a teacher.

I'm sorry to hear you had such a rough ride at the selection board for the CofE. I'm not as sure as you are that the face must fit to get accepted for ordination. If you had the serious support of your local church, then they should have rallied round when you were rejected: have you talked to your vicar since you were rejected?

The other perspective that the Christian faith offers is to see this life as just a passing moment before our real lives begin when we will live with God forever. In that context this 'vale of tears' is less significant - though it's a reality we often lose sight of.

I look forward to getting to know you better: if you want to write to me directly rather than answer my questions here, Eldad@webbleu.net is the address. I suggest you get yourself a more anonymous email address than the ones provided by the usual suppliers (most email gives the IP address of the sender) though the discussion that used to be available seems to be off-line atm. Hushmail.com is a good option.

There is hope - but only ultimately in God.