“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
Romans 5:2
Just before Christmas I enrolled in a new course. It was a surprise, last minute addition to my goals of lifelong learning. Because of an icy patch and a desire to hurry, I got fast tracked for admittance.
The course?
‘Accessibility 101.’
I’m sure I’ve had the opportunity to study this course before. I’ve just never seen the need. You know – ‘when will I ever use this stuff in the future?’ – the muddled thought that hits every poor adolescent when confronted with calculus.
While the practice material (at home, over holidays, with many a minion to fetch and carry) was a bit of an inconvenience, the exam has been an eye opener for sure. Here is what I’ve learned about accessibility in the past 2 days, on a mini road trip.
Sidewalks this time of year are icy and treacherous. (Okay, so I already knew that. But the ice/crutches combo adds a whole new – heart pounding excitement to the occasion.)
Restaurants that you choose on Trip Advisor are unaccountably at the top of random flights of stairs.
Tubs are slippery and inconveniently shaped when you are trying to keep your sore foot flat.
Carrying anything whilst manoeuvring crutches is a challenge. (Okay, it’s impossible.)
It’s hard to be aware of your surroundings when your head is down. Seriously hard.
Crutches slip when their feet get wet. And every single floor had wet patches from the inevitable snow that got tracked in. 😵💫
But by far the most educational part of this course has been the subsection entitled ‘Public Washrooms on Road Trips’.
Talk about a learning curve.
The stalls are hopelessly narrow when there isn’t a wheelchair accessible stall. (Most places lacked one). The soap and sink and drying systems are usually several steps removed from each other. Awkward when you have to keep touching your crutches between processes. (Don’t overthink that one. It will make you feel icky). Often there is not one heavy door but two to manage upon entry and exit. Paper litter on the floor is not just annoying.
I’ve never once been bothered before. You know, in my life BC.
(Before Crutches).
I suddenly appreciate services, buildings, facilities which are designed with thought to their accessibility. For the first time, I’m realizing how much I’ve taken for granted.
Stairs could be a deal breaker for some. Parking, ditto. Sidewalk or floor surfaces which get inevitably wet and therefore slick as a bobsled track, double ditto. Shelves, sinks, soap dispensers at the wrong height or carelessly placed can cause discomfort or distress in a day already marked by stress and difficulty.
Don’t get me wrong. The world is not out to get me. I actually had some great experiences with delightfully helpful strangers. Often, people went out of their way to open doors, prop open elevators, allow me to clump out first before they exited.
It’s the system that isn’t designed for access, that makes it hard for folks to get what they need.
Makes me think.
Religion has put up accessibility road blocks for centuries. Do this. Pay that. Sacrifice and buy in and donate and do your quota of good deeds and maybe, just maybe you’ll get there.
Hogwash.
Doing good is – good.
It is not the way to God.
See, religion is a list of requirements to bring us up to God’s level. Those man made systems build unnecessary stairs at inconvenient angles, all with floors laid with beautiful but impossibly slippery tiles.
Oh, they look good.
They just can’t stand up to the accessibility test. They trip us up every time.
Jesus Himself blasted the leading philosophers of His day who were so religiously making it hard for regular folks to access God. Follow our rules. Add these items to your lengthening list. Bolster. Muster. Exert yourself.
No.
No!
Oh, friend.
The news is GOOD!
Religion tries to bring us to God.
God brings Himself to us!
Friend, you have free access. No fee. No entry requirements. No hoops to jump through, no super-human exertion, no radical offerings. No walls, no doors, no crutches, no sinks in stupid places. No barriers at all.
As in, none.
Not.
One.
Is your heart hearing this?
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:19-22
Any barrier that ever stood between you and God was decimated by the cross.
So toss the crutches. Walk – no, run with me to that holy place where God is waiting to welcome you!
Now, that’s accessibility.
Boldly enter God’s presence with me?
Father, I am once again blown away by this fierce truth. You have removed all barriers and made Yourself fully accessible! Thank you for the rich reminder of the free access I have to Your presence at any time, for any reason. How I love You for it! Amen.
Growing in Grace 