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PROGRAM D-8016
If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you are aware of the many sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual encounters that are being exposed involving men in government, in Hollywood, and in various companies. I thought it would be appropriate to address this topic of sexual harassment in the workplace, and how a Christian woman should deal with it. I will do that through my on-going story of Fran and Jesus on the Job.
Today, Fran arrives at work to find that a Vice President, John Sims, who has recently transferred to their office, wants to spend time with a few select people so he can learn the division better. Fran is one of those who has been chosen. She doesn’t really want to be bothered, but since she doesn’t have any choice, she has asked Jesus to give her patience and kindness toward John.
As the day begins, John walks into her office and says with a smile, “Well, I’m ready, teacher. Shall we begin our orientation now?”
They break for coffee in an hour or so and, walking back to the office, John brushes up against Fran very close as they both go in the door. It was the kind of touching that didn’t seem accidental. Fran had tried to avoid the touch, but it was impossible. “Don’t let your imagination run away with you, Fran,” she says to herself. Nonetheless, the bell goes off in her head.
She quickly and silently turns to Jesus, “Please help me, Lord. Give me discernment and wisdom.” Jesus promises, as always, to do that.
John pulls his chair to Fran’s side of the desk. As they sit down, he leans toward Fran, pretending to look at something on her PC screen. “What are you doing now, Fran?” he asks. As he leans in, his knee rests against her thigh. Fran immediately pulls away, but he leans closer to her ear and says, “Nice legs, Fran. Very nice.”
“John,” she says with alarm, “Please!” She is so stunned she hardly knows what to say. What has she done to give John the idea that she is that kind of girl?
“Oh, you women all pretend you don’t like it, but the facts are, you love it,” John says, but backs away a bit as he does.
“Excuse me?” Fran says.
“Just keep working, Fran,” he replies as he leans back with a grin. “Don’t worry your pretty head. I’ll just admire the scenery.”
Keep working? How can Fran keep working with this kind of behavior? Fran feels very ashamed and humiliated.
“You prayed for discernment,” Jesus whispers to her, “and I want you to realize that you’ve got to keep your guard up with this man.”
“You mean, sexual harassment?” Fran whispers back to Jesus. The light is dawning and Fran is scared to death.