Think About it -- Your Best Ability is Your Availability

Think About It Think About it -- Your Best Ability is Your Availability
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Carl Chinn

Jan 24, 2026

This week’s TAI is by FBSN member Warren Wells.

The saying, “Your best ability is your availability,” is often credited to Bill

Parcells, the former NFL coach. It’s straightforward and, to be honest, a bit

uncomfortable. While talent, training, and experience are all important, they

don’t matter if you’re not there when it really counts.

This idea popped into my head during a recent Sunday service. The pastor used

a slightly diﬀerent word: dependability. That really stuck with me, especially

when I think about faith-based security work. Availability is about showing up.

Dependability is about showing up consistently, prepared, and with the right

mindset.

In ministry and security, people often think the most gifted person is the most

valuable. The best communicator. The most tactical. The one with the strongest

resume. But over time, teams learn a tough lesson. The people who make the

biggest diﬀerence are usually the ones who can be counted on. They answer the

call. They take the assignment. They follow through without needing to be

chased down or reminded.

For FBSN members, this is especially relevant. Most of us are volunteers or

serve in roles that go beyond our job descriptions. Emergencies don’t wait for

perfect schedules. Incidents rarely happen when it’s convenient. Being available

means you’re willing to step in when others step back. Being dependable means

leaders know exactly what they’re getting when you say yes.

There’s also a spiritual aspect to this. God has always worked through ordinary

people who were simply willing to be used. Moses had doubts. David was

young and overlooked. Peter was impulsive and flawed. What they shared was a

willingness to respond when God called. Availability opened the door.

Dependability kept them in the fight.

This doesn’t mean burning yourself out or saying yes to everything. Healthy

boundaries are important. But it does mean being honest about your

commitments and faithful in the ones you make. If you say you will be there, be

there. If you take a role, own it.

Think About it

It’s true that being available can help you stand out, but being dependable really

builds trust. And when it comes to faith-based security, trust is what makes all

the diﬀerence.

This is the “ready” of Ready / Willing / Able. Ready means you show up faithfully. You’re there.

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