My first “real” job was working at a restaurant that never closed. Even at 3:00 AM, someone could pull in, get seated at a table or booth, and be served food even if they were the only customer who had entered since late the day before. There were no “openers” or “closers” because the restaurant doors never locked.

As a customer, such a restaurant is certainly convenient because you never have to worry about getting there on time. Whether you are a long-haul trucker making a coast-to-coast delivery, a college student grinding books and cramming lecture notes or a group of friends hopped up on caffeine and laughs, you know the doors are always open and someone will be ready to take your order.

I mention this first job because the first time I stepped into full-time ministry, I saw my schedule as much the same way. Ministry is a 24-hour-a-day calling and I assumed that, much like my first restaurant job, that meant my phone was always on and the door always open no matter the time, day, or family circumstance.

Today, that type of mindset exists in a variety of jobs. The prevalence of technology, while fantastic in many ways, has provided accessibility to teachers, doctors, IT tech support, plumbers, financial planners, and more every moment of every day. The former built-in realities of opening and closing times are often seen as vague recommendations rather than firm boundaries. And it is with that in mind that I offer a lesson that I am continuing to learn even after 17 years of full-time professional ministry.

There is a BIG difference between AVAILABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY

If you want to reach me I have a cell phone number, a work number, a personal business number, Instagram, Facebook, Slack, Discord, Twitter, multiple email addresses, and an old-fashioned snail mail address that people sometimes send things to. Most of those are funneled directly to a small electronic device that I nearly always carry with me. I am absolutely, unquestionably ACCESSIBLE.

The choice I have had to make is when I will be AVAILABLE.

To be accessible means that it is convenient to contact me. To be available implies that I will, at that moment, be open to receiving your contact.

This has been a challenging lesson for me to learn because, I WANT to be liked. I want to make others happy. I want to, as a pastor, be there for people whenever I am needed.

But…sometimes my family needs me to ignore the phone calls, let them go to voicemail, and be present.

Sometimes my mental health is such that I know I will not respond well to an email or contact and should sleep before I respond.

Sometimes I need to physically make a note to follow up with someone, because at this moment my attention should be focused on studying, reading, solitude, or even just playing.

Sometimes, I need to choose to be unavailable, knowing that I will have an uncomfortable conversation later with someone who expects me to be available at all times.

This is not easy, and it is certainly not a lesson that I have learned fully. But sometimes, I need to resolve to be accessible and not available.