I’m thinking about access today.
They are doing some work on the road that fronts the parsonage. As has been my experience with most roadworks projects in every place I have lived, information about what is happening and when is not altogether forthcoming and clear. Right now, I can say with certainty they are digging and pouring a curb on my side of the road, which also involves cutting out a wide swath of everyone’s driveways.
Access. As I type, it has been nearly a week since I’ve been able to park in the driveway. Of course this has been frustrating at times, but I’m not venting; I’m thinking out loud, and I hope you will ponder with me.
Access. There are all sorts of ways this project has affected my access — both to the house and from the house. Will the mail-person be able to reach the mailbox? How do we maintain garbage and recycling pickup? How many trips will it take to haul groceries from Bower Elementary to the kitchen?
But then there are other things. Once they began nearing the concrete work and trenches were dug and lines were hung, how do we even get across to get to the cars? or to walk the dogs? or to take the kids to the park? I’m not a gambler, but I’d bet no one planning this project was thinking about how folks with dogs would get to go on walks when they barricaded the block with wire.
Access. What aren’t we thinking about that limits someone’s access? When we start a project or begin something new, who might we be cutting off? Who has never had access… has always been cut off?
Access. There are different things we mean by access and accessible, just as there are different meanings to cutting off access or rendering inaccessible. In terms of worship services and church activities, we might ponder accessibility and inaccessibility in terms of time (who is included or excluded by the schedule we have set?), language (insider v. outsider; masculine vs. neutral; etc.), communication (who are we intentionally communicating with vs. who is left out), age and ability (do we require of people what they cannot do?), and so on.
Access. What have I missed? What have WE missed? How can we do better? Let me know.
I believe that together, with God’s help, we can.
Pastor Michael