I boarded the plane before the rest of my group and tried to locate enough seats so we could sit together. I opted for the back of the plane because of our destination. I was fairly certain the airport we were flying into deplaned and boarded from both doors. Being in the back of the plane would be about the same as sitting in the front, since we’d be close to an exit. The approach worked. What a difference access makes.

Anyone with mobility challenges knows the importance of access. The same can be said for people who are not allowed in areas, positions, or opportunities for a variety of reasons. Anytime there is a barricade set up to block our access to something, we potentially miss out. Not always, of course. Sometimes limited access protects us. Sometimes we soak in and learn right where we are.

What about the barricades we put up ourselves? We sometimes limit our own access, not necessarily physically but perhaps mentally or emotionally. We don’t believe we can do something, or we’re not willing to take a risk or journey. We don’t open our minds and hearts to experiences at times. We certainly can’t access everything. We’re limited by time and resources. When we consider what we can’t (or refuse to) access, we think broad—where we can’t go, what we don’t agree with, and so on. But much of what we miss is within our reach. We go about our daily lives and reject what is uncomfortable. Or we don’t take time to look around and listen or soak.

We’re going to have some access denied because of limitations, but we have so much access we deny ourselves. At the very least, let’s be intentional about the choices we’re making so we can explore, journey with others, and grow in ways only attention and intention will invite.