Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:00 — )
PROGRAM D-8411
Have you ever really thought about a typical day on your job with Jesus right there beside you? As Christians, we know that Jesus is with us in Spirit at all times, but sometimes we forget, don’t we?
I tell the Fran and Jesus stories to help you practice the presence of Jesus—to be aware of his presence in your everyday life, especially on your job. This is simply to show how differently we would act and react if we were continually conscious of Jesus’ presence in our everyday lives. So, join our friend, Fran, as she takes Jesus to work with her this day.
The alarm clock rings, Fran gropes for the off-button, and crawls deeper under the covers.
“If only I could sleep in just one day, just one day. . .” she thinks. The last thing she wants to do is get up, but she’s learned that the only way to do it is to do it! So, both feet on the floor, she fixes her cup of coffee, and sits down to read her Bible and pray.
At first Fran isn’t emotionally motivated, but she’s learned that this time with Jesus makes all the difference in the world in how her day goes. As she starts to read and pray, her heart warms up and her emotions come along, too. She is reminded that Jesus is always with her—he never leaves her or forsakes her—and she is encouraged as she thanks Jesus for going to work with her today.
As Fran arrives at the office, she looks over the day’s agenda and remembers that she has an important meeting tomorrow with a new prospect. She needs to spend the day getting ready.
As she begins to work, her boss comes in.
“Fran, about this presentation tomorrow, I think you need to make the numbers look more attractive.”
“Oh, are we willing to cut our prices?” Fran asks, hoping she would say yes.
“No, no, that’s not what I mean. I just think you have to make that number look better,” her boss explains, referring to Fran’s proposal.
“Gee, Marilyn, we went over that carefully. I think that’s a very realistic estimate of the time and cost we’ll need for this project,” Fran responds.
“Yeah, well, we can always go back to the client after we’ve gotten the business and make up some reason for needing more hours. I think we’ve got to have a lower number here in order to get the business. I want you to cut that number in half.” And with that, she walks out.
Fran is faced with an ethical decision. Cutting the number the way Marilyn wants her to is not honest; refusing to do it will get her in trouble with her boss. How will Fran handle this dilemma?