Back in high school, I was
late so often that one day, I was sent to the principal’s office. And so, while
sitting in front of him, the National Anthem started to play over the school
speakers. He got up from his chair and, looking at me, asked why I didn’t stand
up. I told him I was a JW and he got extremely aggressive and told me there
would be a world of trouble if I didn’t get up. I told him that it would
probably be a better show of respect for the National Anthem to remain silent
until the end. Is face turned into a darker red and he turned his back on me. In
the meantime, I prayed to God to calm him down. At the end, he calmly turned
back, gave me a permission slip and told me to get out of his office.
Attributing his change of
attitude to God, I shared the story with an Elder who wanted me to present the
story in front of the congregation. However, he wanted to change “why” I was in
the principal’s office in the first place. He wanted to make up some other
reason and I didn’t want to lie. So, I never delivered that experience on
stage.
Never regretted it.