Tuesday 10 December 2013

Making the possible impossible!

"Red tape" - don't you just love it - I love this quote from R.A J. Philips

"To get the attention of a large animal, be it an elephant or a bureaucracy, it helps to know what part of it feels pain. Be very sure, though, that you want its full attention."

Must say I had to have a laugh at that one - because quite frankly dealing with a bureaucracy, no matter what that bureaucracy may be, is like trying to grab a whirlwind by the tail!

Never ceases to amaze me but like Philips intimates a bureaucracy knows where your 'pain' may be and that's where inevitably the pressure lands.


Being tied up in 'red tape' is just SO frustrating - even in the little things - there are hoops to jump through and unimaginable hurdles to cross to get what seemingly is such a simple exercise - I guess we have all been there and done that.

When was the last time you had to deal with a bureaucracy? Mine was yesterday, but that is another story!

Whether it is with your insurance company, your work, your mobile service Company or some government agency, their rules and seemingly endless regulations and paperwork are ceaseless!! Real head-spinning stuff!!!

Few things are more frustrating to try to work with someone who doesn't have the right authority or even the motivation to help you with your problem whatever that problem is.

There is an endless army of bureaucrats all churning out paperwork and ideas that dazzle and confuse. The red tape flows redder and more and more consistent as the ideas keep coming from endless, often clueless middle managers all outdoing each other to reach that important goal.

Sometimes bureaucrats can go that 'extra' mile - in Phoenix a Pastor called Michael Salmon violated a zoning and building code, would you believe, when he invited friends and family into his home to talk about Jesus and Christianity.

It seems an over-zealous bureaucrat quoting rules and  throwing around red tape shuffled him off to court where he ended up doing time for his "crime"

Yes, so bureaucracy has its up side I guess but it seems we all have felt the down side.

Fortunately bureaucracy isn't an issue when it comes to God. 

We can take a problem to Him without having to deal with red-tape, rules, books, legal jargon, committees or voicemail - YAY!!!

You won't get the "Press button 1" to leave a message - He is there all the time; on time all the time.

You won't have to deal with middle managers who really don't know a thing about what you are talking about. You have direct 24-7 access to the one who has ALL the authority. The one who can and will get things done.

So don't let bureaucracy, no matter where it seems to be, get you down - we as Christians have a one-stop shop when it comes to problems.

You may have to deal with bureaucracies of all sorts here and to be honest you have my deepest sympathies and very best wishes when you have to, BUT we have a much higher court we can appeal to.

God is with us constantly, no matter where we go, what we do or whatever we are facing. 




2 comments:

  1. Hi Bruce,

    I am reminded of something I saw years ago about this issue which I have copied below. It seems the more words that are written/spoken on a subject the worse a thing becomes. And what is the currency of a bureaucracy? Empty words by the truckload!

    I would add one more to the list below that is only three words long but says it all...God is love.

    The Lord's Prayer: 66 words
    The Ten Commandments: 179 words
    The Gettysburg Address: 286 words
    The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words
    The US government regulations on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words

    Say no more....LOL

    ReplyDelete
  2. John, THAT is just sooooo good - and the sad part about it is that it is so true..
    We have gone mad in our society. Lost me block at the hospital yesterday; hence the blog - Thanks for being a good mate.

    ReplyDelete

Human love - super romantic and amazing!

Sometimes it is hard to give up on something you love - especially when that impinges on your family or your life in so many different ways ...