"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 God 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