“People don’t follow vision; they follow availability.” Bob Goff
Do you think that’s true? I wasn’t sure at first because in my experience, the vision of a company, an organization or even a church, has always been a really big deal. It is akin to DNA.
But what if availability is more valuable to some than vision? Is it more valuable to you?
Bob Goff goes on to say in his book, Everybody Always, “I don’t send people to voice mail anymore. Try it for a week. Loving people the way Jesus did means living a life filled with constant interruptions.” To really bring the point home, he then says, “Be excessively available, and you’ll be just like Jesus.”
Interruptions. That word creates inner turmoil for me. I’m a total people person…who is also very task-oriented. When I’m in the middle of a task, I want to have the ability to focus on it and finish it. When I’m with people, enjoying a conversation, I want to continue to chat, interruption free.
Years ago, I read somewhere that “interruptions are the ministry.” I’m thinking it might have been in a Henry Nowen book, but I’m not certain. When I read it, I immediately assented to it. I could be studying my Bible in preparation for a talk I’m going to give and think that’s the ministry, but if someone walks in the room and needs me, what’s the “ministry” at that point? Is my vision for my life or even my talk more important than my availability to that individual at that moment? I don’t think so.
Jesus understood the interruptions. The disciples however, well…they didn’t always have the same amount of understanding or compassion for that matter.
Remember the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14? The disciples wanted Jesus to send the crowds away so that they could go buy food. But Jesus said to the disciples, “you give them something to eat.” Jesus wasn’t ready for the crowds to leave yet. There were still some things that needed to be taught, like His amazing miracle of provision.
On another occasion, Jesus was approached by a Canaanite woman who wanted Jesus’ help (Matthew 15). At first, Jesus didn’t say anything in response to her request. Some might say it was to test her faith because she persisted. In fact, she continued to cry out after him, so much so that the disciples begged Jesus to send her way. Based on the way they asked, it implies that they wanted her sent away with her request granted, but nonetheless, they wanted her away from them.
“They were moved not so much by pity as by dread of a sensation. There was far more sympathy (though hidden) in Christ’s heart than theirs.” (Westcott and Hort). It seems as though they just wanted her to stop nagging them. Ironically, Jesus commended her great faith and at other times pointed out their lack of faith.
Later, in Matthew 19, the disciples do it again. People are bringing their little children (possibly infants) to Jesus and the disciples rebuke them! In my mind, that’s the same as saying, “go away!” And yet, these people were seeking Jesus’ blessing for their children! How sad that the disciples didn’t recognize this “interruption” as the ministry.
Jesus made Himself available to these little ones because “the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” He was available to them because they mattered. Because He cared. Because He loved them and the ones who brought them.
While I can sit here and point out the error of the disciples’ tendency to want to send people away, am I guilty of doing the same thing? Am I guilty of not recognizing the importance of the people around me or the attention they deserve?
I agree with Bob Goff. If I want to love people the way Jesus did, then I need to make myself more available. It’s not always or only about vision. Availability goes a long way in a relationship and speaks volumes when it comes to love.
Go Be Radiant 