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I examine the story of Fran and Jesus on the Job. For those who’ve been following for a while, you know that we’ve been following the life of a fictitious woman named Fran, who works as an account representative for an advertising agency. I tell this story to help us learn to practice the reality of Jesus’ presence in our everyday lives. He is with us when we are born from above; we just often forget he’s there.
Walking into her office today, Fran says to Jesus, “You know, Lord, things have been going really well lately. I sure appreciate your patience with me and your goodness to me.”
As Fran settles into her office, Louise, a coworker who is also a believer, rushes in and shuts the door. “Fran, sit down. You’re not going to believe what I just heard. We just lost two key accounts, our largest. That’s about 30% of this company’s business, Fran. Do you realize what that means?”
Fran sits down; she does indeed realize what it means. “You’re kidding, Louise. We lost both those accounts? Why?”
“Money. Simpson and Elliott came in with incredibly low bids, and the clients went for it. Fran, there will be some drastic cuts around here, you can be sure of that. And you know who gets cut first—those of us who’ve been here the shortest. That’s me and you. Fran, we could be out of a job in a week.”
Louise’s words hit Fran like a ton of bricks. “They wouldn’t do that. We have good records; we bring in business; we do our jobs well.”
“Don’t kid yourself,” Louise replies. “When it comes to laying off people, it’s first in, first out, regardless of your contribution to the company. I gotta go to a meeting; let’s have lunch and talk more.”
“Yeah, sure,” Fran replies as Louise rushes out of her office.
“Lord, did you hear that? If Louise is right, I’d have to collect unemployment, but unemployment won’t pay all my bills. Plus, I have very little money put back. I mean with two kids to feed and clothe, it just takes a lot. And jobs are hard to find; Lord, what am I going to do?” Fran feels panic starting to rise.
Then Jesus brings to her mind the Psalm she read just this morning before leaving for work. As she reaches for her Bible, she says, “What Psalm was that? Here it is—Psalm 56. Verses 3 and 4 say When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Well, quite honestly, Lord, right now it feels like mortal man—my employer—has the power to do something pretty dreadful to me—take my job away.”
But the quiet inner voice of God’s Spirit reminds her again if that happens, nothing can separate her from the love of God.
“No, of course not,” Fran says. And Fran is reassured by Jesus’ gentle words.