Waiting to Get Fired!

Valerie Cullers 30 Comments

I was working at a legal office when one day several Native Americans came in. They wanted to get their tribe reinstated as they had signed a treaty with the federal government decades before terminating their rights. They needed legislation drafted and prepared to take back to Congress in Washington D.C. They offered to have one of their members work at the office to help with the documentation for the legislation. 

I was asked to work with Bob. He was 6′ 3″ and weighed about 275 pounds. He was an imposing figure as he rode up on his motorcycle with his long black curly hair. He looked like someone you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley unless he were on your side. He was very intelligent and had a sense of humor to die for. They assigned us an office to work in.  Bob was supposed to obtain the legal documents, i.e. treaties, etc. and I was supposed to help write the tribal history and insert the legal documentation necessary to support the legislation.

Bob and I worked together for several months. We were about finished with our work and the attorneys were almost ready to take everything back to the Congress in order to introduce the legislation to reinstate the tribe. Everything was going well when some people showed up and wanted to talk to one of the attorneys about the case. 

I was alone in the office when one of the attorneys came in. He looked at me and asked me to draft up several affidavits for the people to sign. He told me what the affidavits were supposed to say. I told him that that wasn’t right and that the affidavits would not be true. He looked at me and said, “Just do it!”angry-man-274175_1280

I was stunned to say the least. I knew the affidavits would not be true and that to draft them up and then witness them would be fraudulent. I thought about it for a few minutes and made a decision. I was not going to draft them up. Period. There were several reasons for this decision: 1. It would be ethically wrong. 2. It would be legally wrong. 3. It would destroy the credibility of the case as the affidavits would obviously be fraudulent. At that point, I was just waiting to get fired. This particular attorney had a bad temper and would brook no insubordination.

So, I did the only thing that made sense at the moment; I got a cup of coffee and started reading a book. After all, no use working on anything else as I was on my last few minutes for the firm. I was well into the first chapter of my book when the lead attorney for the case arrived back at the office. He saw me sitting there idly reading my book and came into the office. “What are you doing?” he asked. I said, “I’m waiting to get fired.” I then explained what had happened. He left the office and talked to the attorney who had given me orders to create the fraudulent affidavits. A while later he came back and said, “You can get back to work,” which I assumed was code for “You’re not fired.”

I took a risk that day. I made a decision that was going to cost me my job. I was pregnant and the firm paid for my health insurance. I lived in a small town and there weren’t a lot of good jobs available. It would be hard to find another one if I had been fired from this job. Because of God’s grace, I did not have to pay a high price for my convictions.

There is always a cost if you follow your convictions. Jesus advised us in Luke 14 to count the cost when making a decision. Sometimes the cost isn’t too high, at other times it is. It is important to take the time to count the cost when making an important decision.

Bottom line for me: having a clear conscience, being able to sleep at night and look myself in the mirror in the morning is worth the cost. What about you? Have you had to pay a high price for your convictions? How did it turn out?   

30 thoughts on “Waiting to Get Fired!”

  1. Yes! I’m so glad you stood up for what was right!! This is a wonderful and inspiring post. I have one memory of doing so that nearly cost me my employment as well… I have often thought the situation might make a good novel. In fact, you could probably fictionalize your experience and create a wonderful novel from it! 🙂 ❤

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  2. Good for you!

    I once lost a job as a remedial teacher because I insisted on doing what students needed, not what my out-of-touch superior two levels up told me to do. After that termination I went back to college.

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  3. Brava!! I would like to believe I would have done the same thing, but after I received Jesus I only worked a brief time in “the world.” After that I always worked in church ministries. My integrity has never been tested like that. I believe there is a crown in Heaven for you.

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      • I appreciate this post and the topic is very important! To have a belief system, standards, rules, religion – whatever it is that guides me, doesn’t take away the challenge and responsibility of deciding where to draw the line. If it did, I’d be blissfully stupid. I make decisions every day, usually small, weighing risks and potential returns based on what’s really important. Many of these are obvious, but sometimes they aren’t. Thanks for sharing that story.

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      • Thank you for your input and very insightful comment. Yes, I think we all do that every day. Sometimes we are confronted with harder choices and it is good to have your moral compass set before you have to make them!

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  7. Thank you for sharing your story.

    Just recently I had to stand up for what was right in the workplace, however, it didn’t turn out so well for me. I lost my job. And worse, my name is being slandered for refusing to go along. I have no regrets for refusing to be part of something that is immoral, unethical or an outright lie.

    Like you my conscience is clear, I’m grateful I have a conscience. I can’t imagine the feeling or burden a person carries without one.

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    • Dear Vicki,
      I am So sorry that you had to go through that. Yes, that is the problem, when you stand up for what is right, you become the bad guy. That’s what I meant by saying it would be hard to get another job in our small town. I hope you live in a bigger town and have many more options available for you. Perhaps you could get a job with a Christian employer who would appreciate your morals and ethics. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!
      Valerie

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      • Thank you for your prayers Valerie,

        I live in an area where there is one small town after another and somehow it seems someone always knows someone who knows you. People love gossip and seem to want to believe it to be true, almost without question.

        Would you believe…the employer I was working for is a Christian and so is his admin.? I have forgiven them and pray for them.

        The Lord is my refuge…He showers me with peace.

        Blessings,
        Vicki

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      • I know a few things about the Lord…He is faithful and He will provide for you. He will also go before you and be your rear guard. I am glad you have his peace. Soon you will have his vindication. Blessings on you also, Valerie

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  9. A lesson indeed many can take from this.
    Would have loved to see you sitting there, waiting to get fired. Loved what you did.
    Some people do not understand what it means to “do the right thing!”

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