Red Tape Is Fun
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Corrinthians 13:11-12
For my part, as a child, I loathed administration. I don't know why that was so. Perhaps fear of the unknown or fear of failure. Certainly it is common, even among the most educated of people, to detest filling out forms because when faced with paperwork in triplicate, even remembering one's name becomes a challenge. To the young child that I was, this sense of being tested vexed me much. This persisted into early adulthood, as I steadfastly continued to avoid administration.
But as I cut my way through the undergrowth of the corporate jungle, it became clear there was not only knowledge, considerable profit and even power in mastering that which others avoided. For those rewards, I set myself to learn. Slowly but surely, I masted the form of forms. In time came to love that which once I loathed. I went so far in the process of administration that I returned to university and read for a Master of Business Administration.
Many years on and I find both tranquillity and solace in the process of administration. The tidying up of loose ends, finding a place for everything and getting everything in its place. In this sense, preparing my blog for migration has proved a perversely invigorating experience.
After a long day at work, I was both irritated and irritating. While I could have sought refuge in drink, I instead set myself to migrating some posts and setting up their metadata. A monotonous process to be sure and one which could have been largely automated. After all, that is what computers do best. Shift data from one place to another with a high level of accuracy. But to take on the role of processor saw the rough seas of my thought calmed. And now, I have the mental space to write these scribbles. One of the other antidotes to mental indigestion.
It is said that many a true word is said in jest. If so, I can do no better than close with the words of Bernard Woolley:
Administration saves the nation! Red tape is fun!
Good night and good luck.
This post is day 055 of my #100DaysToOffload challenge. If you want to get involved, you can get more info from 100daystooffload.com.
Posted in #100DaysToOffload #thoughts