Looking For You All My Life Part 149

"but I think if we're all patient and supportive, we'll see that

we've made the right choice to offer this position to Michael.

-And we still have no guarantee that he will accept.

Remember, everyone, next week we'll all meet at the library.

You're dismissed."

A number of them lingered to continue discussing the

controversy, but Maggie noticed that many of those who had

spoken against Michael had quietly slipped Out. She hoped

that they would resolve themselves to the choice of the

majority, but feared it might not be that simple. If only they

could give him a chance, surely they would see what a gift

he could be to a church like this.

"I just don't get it," said Scott. "Michael is such a great

guy. He's smart, he's good, he knows the Bible. I think if his

skin were a different color we never would have had this

whole discussion in the first place."

"I never thought Christians would be so prejudiced," said

Leah, joining their little group. "Isn't there something in the

-~Bible that tells them not to?"

-"You mean, like how we're supposed to 'love one

another'?" Spencer suggested wryly.

"Yeah, aren't we supposed to love people no matter what

*color their skin is?" asked Leah. Until coming to Pine Moun-

tain, Leah had never attended church before in her entire life.

"People don't always do what they're supposed to do,"

said Sam as he gathered a few things from the pulpit. "Just

because you become a Christian doesn't mean you suddenly

become perfect. We all have a long, long way before we'll

ever be living the way G.o.d tells us to in the Bible. I just hope

that this whole thing over Michael doesn't cause our church

to split."

"I was thinking the same thing," said Maggie. "If

Michael accepts the position, I hope everyone will give him

a fair chance."

Looking for You All My Life233

"Time will tell."

"Do you think it would help if I did an article about

this?" suggested Maggie. "I mean, if he accepts the posi-

tion?"

"It couldn't hurt for folks to be better informed," said

Lou. "Prejudice is usually the by-product of ignorance."

"Exactly," agreed Scott. "That's just what I said in my

story about Randy Ebbert's little hate group."

As the crowd dispersed, Maggie approached Leah.

"How's it going?" she asked. "Is it lonely staying out here

by yourself while Jed's gone? You know you're always wel-

come back at the house."

"No, I'm fine. I kind of like the solitude out here, espe-

cially after being in the shop all day."

"Has the shop been getting much business?" asked