Fran and Jesus on the Job – Christmas – Part I

The Christian Working Woman

These Fran and Jesus stories have caught on; it seems we learn best from stories, and so that's why I continue to use this story-form method. These are fictitious stories, but they are based on my experience and knowledge of the workplace through many years and because I'm in contact with so many of you. In this episode Fran has to face a touchy situation. She arrives at work on a cool November morning, and as she gets settled in for her work, Marilyn, her boss, walks in. "Fran, Human Resources is planning the Christmas Party for the office and they asked me to send a representative from our department. I'd like you to go to this meeting today and put your two-cents in for us, okay?" Marilyn says to Fran. "Well..." Fran's head is swimming as she tries to respond to Marilyn. She remembers the party from last year. She left after being there less than an hour, even before dinner was served, because the drinking and noise and conversation were just not acceptable to her. She certainly doesn't want to be involved in that kind of activity, but Marilyn seems to be telling, rather than asking. Fran stammers a bit and says, "Well, I've got a very heavy workload right now, Marilyn, are you sure...." "Yeah, I know, we're all busy, but somebody has to do it and I think you'll do a good job. So, show up today at 1:00 in the conference room.” And with that Marilyn walks out. "Oh," Fran says with weariness, "what am I going to do about this? I remember the awful party they had last year at Christmas? It was the next thing to X-rated! What am I going to do?" Fran has learned at moments like this to simply stop and pray about her dilemmas. “Lord,” she says, “I need wisdom and insight to know how to handle this assignment. I didn’t ask for it; I don’t want it; but it appears I have it. So, please, let me know how you think about this issue.” Fran begins to think about last year’s party. Why was it such an awful party? “Well, it was because Bill from accounting was in charge of it, and he's a real party animal," Fran thinks to herself. “Maybe if someone else was in charge of it, it could take a different turn.” “But not me, Lord,” Fran thinks. “Not me. I don’t need this . . . I’ve got plenty to do. Not me, please, Lord.” But she can’t ignore that tug she feels inside of her head, and she can’t get the idea out of her head. "Lord, are you suggesting I should get involved with planning this party?” Fran asks. "Lord, I'll have to compromise my standards and beliefs if I do that." Then, as so often happens with Fran when she seeks the Lord for wisdom, he seems to plant questions and ideas in her mind. She has a question and answer period with herself: "What standards would you have to compromise, Fran?" she asks herself. "Well, for example, serving drinks. That's the major thing they do at these parties—drink. And I don't want to be associated with anything that promotes this kind of excessive drinking," Fran answers. "Have you ever thought that maybe you could influence them not to serve alcoholic beverages?" she asks herself again. "Not serve alcoholic beverages at the Christmas party?" Fran responds with a laugh. "Jesus, you just don't understand these parties. They would laugh me out of the room if I suggested that." "Of course,” Fran says with a laugh, “you do understand the parties because you understand everything." Fran stops and thinks about what she has said. Again, God’s Spirit in her has reminded her that Jesus is all-knowing. Occasionally she gets caught in the trap of thinking that there are some parts of life that are unfamiliar to Jesus or out of his control. She is stunned for a moment as she digests the knowledge that Jesus knows about Christmas parties! "I'm sorry, Lord," she says quietly. "I didn't mean you don't understand, it's just that these people equate Christmas parties with drinking.... but I guess you know that, too, huh?" "Yes,