This wasn't anything
that could strike terror in my heart more than the news of an upcoming
teacher's strike, and when this particular strike was actually illegal, it
made me very upset. I didn't feel comfortable striking in the best of times,
but there was no way my conscience would allow me to stand on the picket
line for an illegal strike.
Some said I should
just stay at home during the strike, and I could have done that. Somehow
however, this didn't seem right to me either. It would have made it look
like I was in some way condoning the strike, which I was not. I spent a lot
of time thinking and praying about this; but in the end, there was only one
option that I could live with: I would have to go to school every day of the
strike, even if it meant crossing the picket line...
The day I made this
decision, I went to see my principal. "I cannot strike," I stated after a
short greeting.
I'm not sure what I
expected, but certainly not this: "I won't strike either!"
Well at least I had
the support of my principal!
Those weren't the
most pleasant days. I was targeted by the press, and I would get calls every
day from one newspaper or another. It wasn't long before everyone knew I had
refused to strike, and I quickly became the "bad guy" in town. I even had a
personal escort when I crossed the picket line in order to ensure that I
wasn't hurt. Interestingly, I actually don't think I needed that escort.
Despite stories I had heard about how teachers who cross the picket line
during a strike are persecuted, my own co-teachers actually seemed to look
at me with respect.
There were also a few
students who refused to stay home during the strike. One, in particular,
stands out in my memory. He would come to school almost every day. I would
teach him one-on-one for a while, then he would take school work back home
to do in the evenings. This student happened to be a Christian, and he and I
had some interesting discussions during that time.
One day, the
principal came to my classroom while the student and I were engaged in a
conversation about God. When he didn't seem upset, I decided to test the
waters a little. I went to his office the next day and asked him if he would
like to learn about Jesus.
The principal looked
at me, and I could read a hungering on his eyes. "I would like that," he
said. Then he laughed. "And we certainly have the time!"
Every morning after
that for the duration of the strike, we met together and talked about God.
He and his wife, along with most of his children, all accepted Jesus as
their personal Lord and Savior shortly after the strike was over.
One day, when my
student was with me, he asked if we could have a Bible club in the school.
Naturally, this is not allowed in a public school, and I told him he would
have to ask the principal. We were both pleasantly surprised when the
principal agreed to the plan, as long as it wasn't during official school
hours!
When we stand up for
what is right, even when it isn't the popular thing to do, even when doing
what is right can be potentially dangerous, it opens the doors to blessings.
In this case, not only did my principal and his family come to know the
Lord, but we were able to start up a Bible club as well, where other
students could have the opportunity to learn about God. And when we're doing
what God is calling us to do, we can be sure that He will always be with us
and we never need to be afraid.
What unpopular thing
is God calling you to do? Take courage and do it, for you never know when:
"It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony." (Luke 21:13 NASB)
In His love,
Rob Chaffart
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