Integrity at its finest

Ok, so I'm one of the few souls who have exhausted all of their vacation early in the year and now find myself in a desolate office just 2 days before Christmas! I joked to a fellow co-worker today that we were playing "survivor" and we were going to see who would be voted off at tonight's tribal council as things were getting rather isolated here.

But today, I noticed something. While not everyone is here there is one person here that is extremely telling. This individual is retiring from our company after 42 years of service. She's been an administrative assistant her entire career and has worked her way into a very prominent role supporting our Vice Presidents. Her last official day is December 31 but because we are on company shut-down between Christmas Day and January 5, tomorrow is her last day in the office. AND she is still here. Working away, tying up loose ends, tidying her workspace...

What makes this remarkable is that her boss is gone. He's been gone for nearly a week now. In Montana of all places, so there's not much chance he's going to pop in for a surprise visit. There's really no one else around either who would need anything from her. So she really is here just cleaning up. AND she stays.

Why? Well, she is a true company person - why else would she have stayed with the same employer for 42 years? (our company is only 53 years old). She just is that kind of person. Someone who wouldn't even think about abusing the privileges we've been given. Someone who wouldn't even think about lying or cheating. Someone put in charge of little and given much!

This person has taught me today as I watched her go about her work the value of integrity. Doing what you ought to when no body is watching....
But isn't that what we're all doing here on Earth? We've been given the chance to do what we ought to when Jesus isn't here in the flesh. But how many of us are doing this? How many of us are just "getting by" hoping that no one sees? How many of us have knocked off early from work to squeeze in last minute Christmas shopping hoping to avoid the crowds???

While we celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas, we also celebrate His life here on Earth. The first time he was here, no one really understood what King of Kings meant. So unabashedly men went about their life with little regard for Him. And here we are in the period of time with no visible representation of Him on this earth. And we're doing basically the same thing. Going about our life without regard for Him. . . But there is coming a day - and Praise God for this - when He will return and everyone will know what King of Kings means... and how we long for that day.

So my friends, as you read this today and as you prepare to celebrate Christmas - think of my friend and c0-worker here in the office - going out her duties diligently and respectfully in the absence of the boss. And please do the same. Live today for Him. Celebrate tomorrow and Thursday not just with gifts and food, but with the joy that comes from knowing the King of Kings is alive and will return again to call you by name. Bow before a manger scene somewhere this season and thank God that that Baby knows your name and willingly came to earth, went to the cross and is coming again, just for YOU!

Because you know... just like the fact that I saw my friend from afar going about her work... He sees you from afar even now as you read this! And he's watching... and waiting to call you by name.

Merry Christmas!