Bureaucracy

All week I have been battling various bureaucratic nightmares which are driving me crazy! This morning I’ve been up since 3am trying to get document approval for a shipment to Dubai. I have revised the documents at least 10 times now. Every day, they want one more thing changed. (As I’m typing this blog post I’ve sent 4 more revisions.)

In addition to this ongoing saga, I’m also trying to order insulin pump supplies for Kyle. I ordered them Monday, but that was just a practice run I guess. The next day I checked to see if they had shipped, and they said I had a balance due of $21 from a previous order that needed to be paid before they could send it. So I paid that. The next day I checked to see the status of the order and it said that they were just kidding about the $21, what I really needed to pay is $50 more dollars. So I paid that. Today I log in to check, and now they need me to upload a revised doctor authorization order.

WHY CAN’T ALL OF THESE PEOPLE JUST TELL ME EVERYTHING THEY NEED AT ONCE?? grrrrr

When situations come up over and over again, I have to ask myself what lesson is God trying to teach me? I keep going through the same things again and again. It’s so irritating.

So this morning I open up my Jesus Calling daily devotional to find this message:

I am with you and for you. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you. You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don’t be discouraged–never give up! With My help, you can overcome any obstacle. Do not expect and easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent.

And then I open up my Daily Bible to find a lesson on Abraham’s obedience through the Isaac sacrifice, followed by an interesting inclusion about “Oriental bargaining” in the explanation of Genesis 23:1-2.

Of some curiosity, however, is the attention which the text gives to a transaction between Abraham and a man named Ephron who owns a cave which Abraham wishes to purchase as a burial site for Sarah’s remains. The transaction itself is an interesting introduction to Oriental bargaining, in which an apparent offer of a gift is nothing more than a subtle way of setting a price.

This reminded me that bureaucracy is not new. I am not the only, or the first, person dealing with these problems. I think the lesson here is to just chill. Everything will be okay because God is with me.

Also worthy of note are the two bible verses of the day from the bible apps I use. 1 was Matthew 6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The other was Ephesians 6:12:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

So at this point, I’m thanking God for bureaucracy. That is so messed up. But I am so tremendously grateful for the reminder that I need to keep my eyes pointed towards Him and not be so bogged down by my first-world problems.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *