Part II
Louise, Fran’s close Christian friend at work, just lost a new account, and it’s become obvious that she lost it because of her strong Christian principles. Fran had more trouble accepting this than Louise, but after talking to Jesus, she realized this was not a fight that can be undertaken with the weapons of the world, but it must be fought with prayer.
Now, this Saturday morning, Fran is thinking of what she can do special for Louise to make up for this disappointment, and she gets an idea. She calls Louise and says, “Hey, if you’re not busy tonight, why don’t you come over. We can watch a good movie or something—the kids want to see Toy Story 2 again—and I’ll cook spaghetti. We can have our own private party, to celebrate the victory that God has given you and the good he’s going to bring out of this bad situation!”
“Hey, Fran,” Louise says, “you’re so kind to think of that, but did you forget? We promised Claire and Maritza that we’d have dinner with them and catch a movie.”
“Oh, right,” Fran says, “I did forget. Bummer! I better make sure Mom can watch the kids tonight. Thanks for reminding me.”
Louise says, “Well, Claire and Maritza are new at church and we need to get to know them better.”
So, Fran gets busy with all her Saturday chores and errands before time to go out. They meet Claire and Maritza at a nice little Italian restaurant and enjoy some good pasta.
“Hey, what movie do you want to go to?” Louise asks. They discuss two or three and Claire suggests one that is rated R.
“You know,” Fran says, “I just have a rule for myself that I don’t see R rated movies. But I know there is one rated PG-13 in the Plaza that sounds kinda cute. That okay with you guys?”
Everyone agrees it sounds okay. Claire says, “You mean, you never go to an R rated movie? But some of them are really good.”
“Well, the acting may be good and things like that, but I just don’t want to fill my mind up with scenes of violence or sex or inappropriate language or lifestyles. You know, what you see with your eyes has a stronger impact on you that anything else,” Fran responds.
It’s obvious that this is a whole new thought for Claire and they talk about that a bit more. Louise joins in to say that she has learned to be very selective about the movies she watches, at home, in the theater, DVDs—whatever. “I’ve discovered that once I see those images, they are very difficult to get out of my head. In fact, when they started invading my prayer time, that’s when I knew I had to be more selective in what I watched.”
As they wait in line for tickets, Fran says to Louise on the side, “I wonder about this movie, don’t you, Louise? What if it’s no good?”
“We’ll leave,” Louise says quietly.
“You mean, just leave Claire and Maritza?” Fran says, somewhat concerned.
“We don’t watch junk, right Fran,” Louise says as they go into the theater. They get settled into their seats with their popcorn, looking forward to a lighthearted funny movie.
About ten minutes into the movie, Fran begins to feel nervous. This is not the wholesome movie it is advertised to be. The lead couple are not married, living together, as though there’s nothing wrong with it. And the language is not all that wholesome, either. She can tell that Louise is also not comfortable with it.
After a few more minutes, Louise whispers in her ear, “We can’t sit through this movie, Fran. This is trash. I think we have to leave, don’t you?”
“I agree it’s a rotten movie,” she whispers back, “but I don’t want to embarrass Claire and Maritza.”
“I’ll take care of that, Fran, don’t worry,” she says, and with that she whispers something to Claire then motions to Fran to head out of the theater.
As they get to the lobby, Fran asks “What did you tell Claire?”
“I just said we were uncomfortable with the movie and we’d meet them right outside the lobby when it’s over. C’mon, let’s go get a cup of coffee.”
“I hate to do this to Claire and Maritza. They probably think we’re really weird. Guess we should have checked this movie out a little better, huh?” Fran comments.
“Yeah, that’s a good lesson to remember, Fran, next time we’re choosing a movie. But I wouldn’t want to be watching that movie if Jesus returned right now, would you?”
“No,” Fran says, “but I just feel badly for Claire and Maritza. And it’s kinda embarrassing. Don’t you think we should have just waited it out?”
“Trust me, Fran,” Louise says, “we did the right thing.”
Things are quiet for a few moments, as they both are lost in their own thoughts. Then Fran says, “It’s interesting, Louise. This past week I thought you didn’t fight enough for your beliefs. I wanted you to stand up and fight that discrimination when they didn’t give you the new account. We both know it was simply because you have Christian principles that kept you from getting that business. But tonight you were very assertive in taking a stand about this movie. It’s almost like you’re two different people.”
“Hmm,” Louise thinks. “I see what you mean, but let me see if I can explain. I didn’t take a stand at the office about being denied the new account because I felt it would damage my testimony. The new account—and the money that came with it—are not worth coming across as a money-mad, abrasive, give-me-what-I-deserve kind of person. That’s the way most people are, but as a Christian, I don’t think I should be. The only person who lost—so to speak—was me, and I was more than willing to do that.
“Tonight much more was at stake than just somebody treating me unfairly. I didn’t see any other options, Fran.”
Fran looks at her in amazement. “I’m seeing a side of you I’ve never seen before, Louise,” she says.
“You mean my wimpy side or my assertive side?” Louise asks with a grin. “Which do you like best?”
“I guess I did wonder why you weren’t more assertive at the office. I guess I thought you should stand up and be heard,” Fran says sheepishly, “if you know what I mean.”
“You thought I was a wimp—go ahead and say it,” Louise laughs.
“Well, not exactly a wimp, but. . . ” Fran stammers. “Then tonight, well. . .”
“Tonight I almost embarrassed you because I was so strong and aggressive –right?” Louise asks.
“Well, it was a little embarrassing, I guess, but. . .” Fran looks for the right words.
“You should know something about me, Fran. When it comes to my responsibility and accountability to God, I am not embarrassed to do the right thing—period. Do you understand?”
Fran has never heard Louise so forceful, and she realizes what a warped idea she had of how she should behave. She sees that Louise has her priorities much more in line than she does.
“I’m ashamed to confess to you that I was embarrassed to leave the theater,” Fran says. “It sure reveals how shallow my convictions are, I guess.”
“Oh, come on, Fran, don’t be so hard on yourself,” Louise says. “Hey, how about some ice cream while we’re waiting. Ice cream always solves problems.’
As Louise orders the ice cream, they look up to see Claire and Maritza coming in.
“Hey,” Claire says, “I thought we’d find you here. We decided to leave, too.”
“Hi,” Fran says; “I’m sorry about leaving so abruptly but. . .”
“It was my decision, Claire,” Louise interrupts. “And I do apologize if we embarrassed you. I just felt the movie was so far off base, that it was nothing I wanted to watch.”
“Well, I thought it was pretty dumb myself,” Maritza agrees.
“What bugged me,” Louise says, “was that they were portraying this illicit relationship as though it was okay—just because they’re a cute couple and very sophisticated. Hollywood makes sin look normal.”
“You know,” Claire says, “I hadn’t thought about that. . .”
Louise adds, “You know, what I’ve finally decided is that you have to set standards and then stick to them. Often as Christians we lower our standards a little bit here and a little bit there, and all of a sudden, we’re on a slippery slope downhill.”
“You know, just the other day at work, someone started telling an off-color joke, and I was so uncomfortable,” Claire says. “I know I turned red and hung my head. In fact, they kinda made fun of me. But I didn’t know what to do.”
“That’s happened to me before, too,” Fran says. “I used to think I just had to grin and bear it, so to speak, but no more. I either walk away from the conversation, if that’s possible, or I ask them to hold that joke until I’m not around. I’ve actually done that.”
“You’re kidding,” Maritza chimes in. “Wow, that took guts. What did they say?”
“You won’t believe this, but several people came to me and thanked me for saying something,” Fran relates. “They didn’t like this person’s dirty jokes any more than I did, but nobody had said anything. Now, everybody knows not to tell those jokes when I’m around. They tease me, but I consider it a compliment.”
“I never thought about it that way,” Maritza says. “Where I work the language and the jokes are really awful, but I’ve never known how to deal with it. I just may try your idea.”
“Well, first, pray lots about it, Maritza,” Louise says. “In fact, after we finish this ice cream, let’s just have a time of prayer together about it.”
“Great idea,” Fran says. “We can go back to my house if you like.”
And with that, a long discussion begins, giving Louise and Fran a wonderful opportunity to share and to encourage their new friends in their walk as Christians. It turned into a wonderful evening, actually.
After they leave her house, Fran quietly thanks Jesus for the courage and character Louise has and for the wonderful evening this turned out to be.