I had been teaching in San Diego City schools for three years. I was presently assigned to Wright Brothers Career High School and enjoyed teaching English, especially basic writing. But this year, when I told the principal that I would like almost two weeks off to attend God's Feast of Tabernacles, he was non-plussed (actually pretty upset and angry). Then he settled down and asked me, “Do you do this every year?”

I told him that for the three years I had worked for San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) I had done it every year and for the 10 years that I had been baptized I had done it every year. He said, “Why can't you go to your Feast of Tabernacles during the summer, when you have time off?” I had to explain that I would if I could, but that God had written in His Word when the Feast should occur. I was just following what the Bible said.

I think he saw that I was adamant and then relaxed and stated, “Well then I think that you must go down to District Headquarters and explain your position to them. We will see what they say.”

At that time, I was not yet an elder, but I was a deacon. I was not quite a “babe” in the Faith, so to speak, and I had been taught well by those who had been instrumental in bringing God's Word to light in my life.

So I held firm. Well as firm as I could after fasting completely for three whole days.

Fasting does “mellow a fellow.” I was alert but not really too on edge when I entered the assistant superintendent’s office, He was polite, if not cordial, and asked why I had been sent to him. I am sure he knew, but supervisors are taught to give underlings plenty of rope to hang themselves.

Again I explained God's Feast of Tabernacles, quoting God's Word (in brief!) but enough to clearly make the point. And then he asked how long I had been doing this. I told him that I had been keeping the Feast for 10 years, three of which while employed by SDUSD.

Although the appointment to go downtown had been in the works for two weeks, the day that I was to appear, the Worldwide News, our newspaper had been delivered to our home. My wife Suzanne had read at least some of it but I had not. She told me, after I arrived home from school, there was a very important article about a California public school teacher and I should read it if I could before my interview. I said I would try and rushed out. This article explained that another Church member, released from employment (euphemism for “fired”) for keeping God's Feast, had had to be reinstated and given back pay. WOW, but I really had no time to even think what this meant just then. I was late.

During my short interview the assistant district superintendent stated essentially, “Taking off for this 'Feast' never caused a problem? Why didn't you tell us this when you were first hired?”

“Sir, I did! When I was given my employment interview I explained to the interviewing person that each year, in the fall, I would need to take a short leave of absence for important, commanded Holy Days.”

That surprised him, but he looked more carefully into my personnel record and sure enough it was there! I don't remember what it said exactly but a record was made that when hired, if all other things were copesetic (a word that means “completely satisfactory”), I would be allowed to keep God's Feast of Tabernacles. Wow! I had not denied what God tells us to do and I was on record for saying it.

Then I showed this officer the Worldwide News article. He sped read it in under two minutes and then said he would get back to me very soon. “Goodbye, have a good day.”

The district assistant superintendent got back to me in one day and said in essence, “It looks like you can have a long career with us. Keep doing a good job.”

As you read my story, please understand—this was just one challenge in my career as a regular public-school teacher while also being a fully participating member of God's Church. There were other challenges through the years. There may still be more down the road, though I retired from paid teaching more than 10 years ago. But the promises of God hold true forever.

God says that They (Father and Son) will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And They have the ability to work miracles! Trust Them!