Written on April 6, 2025. Posted later that same day.
On October 15, 2021, I informed RJUHSD I was going to resign / retire December 2021. The reason to retire early (three years before I would “earn” my full pension) is nine ‘directives’ were given to me that frankly impeded my growth in Christ and infringed on my rights; rights that my Grandfather was killed defending (“Still at Sea” – USS INDIANAPOLIS) and our son risks his life defending today.
I had no idea what God had planned. There was no job to go to. Felt alone / abandoned from many people who once were there for me and Diana.
January 8, 2022, Diana and I were approached by a wonderful couple asking us to come out of retirement to begin a band program on all three campuses at a local Northern California Charter School. Having never taught at a charter school, being told by school union members / friends how awful charter schools are and how they ‘rob’ from the public schools, Diana and I prayed to Jesus Christ if this is where He wants us to go. We were going to risk losing many friends.
His reply, “YES.”
And not only did we say ‘yes’ to the three campuses (Roseville / Lincoln / El Dorado Hills) for the 2022-23 school year, but on June 8, 2022,a friend asked if I would got to his high school (which would be 45 – 60 minutes from the three campuses), and help keep that music program alive. We did that, too. CRAZY. When it rains, it pours.
Today, Diana and I are focused on the Lincoln Campus. She and I are with some very sweet 4th-7th grade beginning band “scholars” and I have 14 7th/8th graders in “intermediate band.” Diana and I have learned a lot about “Classical Education.” Having never taught 4th grade before, we have learned a lot about 4th GRADERS, such as, a stretch of a hand on a clarinet and the length of an arm for trombone.
On March 31, 2025, out of the blue a colleague approached me, “Can we start a fife and drum corps for the 250th Celebration of our Nation?” “No. But maybe we could get a marching band for that celebration?” He said, “I like that Idea. What do we need to get that started?” “Well, to start with, we need to have marching drums.”
On April 2, 2025, that colleague came back with a flyer advertising selling tamales to raise money for the band!
At the April 4, 2025, monthly staff meeting, he stood in front of all the teachers / staff, gave a nice speech about his vision, and handed out the flyer! I was teary-eyed. My hands were being filled by God.
HANDS OFF
April 5, 2025, a nation-wide demonstration was held against President Trump and Elon Music: HANDS OFF.
On my Facebook page, many friends (most of them teachers) were at the “Hands Off” protests. Seeing them stirred memories of what we (me / friends) had before the response to COVID. Back then, I could see myself in those pictures!
Now, the pictures I saw of me on April 5, 2025? Me in a church leading a church choir in rehearsal for Palm Sunday! Spending a quiet day with my beautiful wife.
God is doing incredible things for me. Every time I miss being with my ‘friends’ He fills that time. Not an exaggeration. When I think I should go to a protest called “Hands Off,” He places His hands on me and directs me to a choir rehearsal. A rehearsal scheduled in NOVEMBER 2024 – by the way. When I want to go to a music conference or gathering of music teachers, God has me giving a leadership seminar or attending a memorial service for a family member God places his hands on me and leads me where He wants me to be.
As we approach THE Christian event of all Christian events, Resurrection Sunday, I am going to encourage you to have JESUS place His HANDS ON you. They want your “Hands Off.” He wants your HANDS ON!
While others are saying, “Hands off,” you can say, “Heavenly Father, my hands are free, lifted up to You so You can place your HANDS ON them.”
You Have a Choice
When we left RJUHSD December 23, 2021, we had empty hands. We didn’t know our hands were empty. I thought my empty hands were going to be filled with many music teachers’ / other teachers’ / friends’ hands I had made over 30 years of teaching music in California, but indeed, my hands were a little less full than I had anticipated.
Yet, as in the story I shared to start this article, in God’s time, your hands are going to be full. Full with His love. He is going to have others’ hands hold your hands. In fact, my hands are incredibly full (not too fully for anyone who needs them). You will need to be patient.
If you feel your hands are empty, go to church on Palm Sunday (NICE pun. “Palm” as in “Palm of hand” Yes. Christian friends, I know what the “palm” refers to. Jump your high-horse!). Then, end that Holy Week by returning to church on Resurrection Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of the King. The King who will hold your empty hands! From the pictures I have seen, there are a lot of empty hands at those “HANDS OFF” protests.
As Always, a Picture is Worth a Thousand (or more) Words
Take a look at the pictures below and see what “Hands Off” looks like compared to what “Hands on” / “Hands up” look like. How others envision “freedom” looks like.
