We Need To Forgive Before We Can Unite

Colleen sailed a sea stone into the sea and watched as it hit the waves rushing inshore, splashing water in his direction. Because the sea was rough, seawater sprinkled his t-shirt, hair, and face. He didn’t budge. Again, his attention was as if he was waiting for something or someone on a boat to come in.

This has been going on for three months — something was different today, Colleen thought to herself, staring at him concerned.

Easing closer, she caught the frustration in his eyes before he blinked, sending it back.

He stared at her for the first time, faked a smile, then said, “hello.”

Colleen returned a genuine smile and pried, “it’s not coming.”

With raised brows, he asked, “what’s not coming?”

“The answer to the question you are waiting for.”

With popped eyes, and a genuine smile, he asked, “How did. . . . am I that obvious?”

Colleen nods, smiling, “but, maybe I can help.”

“If you can, I will be your genie and grant you one wish?” he suggested.

“Ok,” Colleen said, rubbing her hands together in glee, “try me.”

“My name is Peter Hinds,” he introduced himself.

“Of The Hinds Industries,” Colleen asked, easing her upper body back, her right hand resting on her upper chest.

He nods, then gets to the point, “Our world is changing, and I vote for diversity in my department, and I got it.”

“So what’s the problem?” Colleen asked. Her thoughts rushed to the racial issues many Americans face in the workplace.

“I thought it would be the solution for unity,” he said regretfully.

“It usually is, and it should be. Bringing people of different races together, not all of them come in with good intentions.”

“I wasn’t aware of that,” he said in frustration. “Everyone is screaming for unity, and I have been fighting with my family to bring diversity to our company. My grandfather believes we must change with time, or we will be left behind.”

“He is right. Racial equality is vital in the workplace,” Colleen agrees. “And humanity’s refusal to adapt and accept that change is essential to our success and continued existence will lose all or most of what they have spent years investing in.”

“But it isn’t working out for my department,” he revealed.

“When a company decides to employ potential employees because of qualifications instead of race, some employees will see it as an opportunity for unity,” she explains.

“And others will see it as what?” he questioned.

“They will see it as change. And then some will see it as revenge bringing hatred in. Which weakens any chance of unity,” Colleen enlightens.

“Are you saying that hatred will accompany diversity?” he asked, eyeing her in shock and easing closer.

“Not everyone who experienced Racism in the past will accept unity from the ones they believed were racist towards them,” Colleen enlightens.

“But I don’t know any of these people,” Peter defends.

“They don’t see Peter Hinds, a kind, honest, hardworking male. They see your skin color, position, privilege and wealth.”

“Will you marry me?” Slipped from Peter’s heart after realization flips it over, more than once.

Colleen eased back, saying, “Whoa. I am the one that should be making a wish, remember.”

“And that was fifty years ago,” Peter said, his hands clasped in Colleen’s as the audience cheered.

“What was your wish?” one of the college graduates in the audience asked.

Colleen’s smile expanded as Peter’s eyes met hers, “ice-cream.”

The audience shouts, “really?”

“At first,” Colleen confessed. “But after a few dates, here we are.”

“Did diversity work?” a voice asked.

Peter turned to gaze at his wife again, love in his eyes, as he trods back into their first meeting, “It was Colleen’s idea to bring in a professional to educate, stress and teach, if possible, the value and importance of forgiveness and how it will introduce change and can bring unity to mankind.”

“So forgiveness and change help to remove the hatred from diversity?”

Smiling at his wife again, Peter said, “It worked so damn well that our entire company around the world changed everything, including our planet.”

A familiar voice asked, “Isn’t love weird Grandpa?”

The other students in the auditorium agreed, and someone asked, “imagine finding your soulmate while looking for the answers to unity and diversity.”

“Love is everywhere,” Colleen said, reaching over to hug her husband.

Racism’s laws, actions, choices, and decisions help to prevent equal opportunities for many of us in the workplace. Many companies attempt diversity. Some people come to these workplaces with hope, happiness, hostility, and hate. All of the four H’s will test unity. Only two will win with positive side effects.

Most people want diversity, unaware that it is the beginning of change. Racial change cannot happen without forgiveness if humanity wants unity.

Which one do you carry into your work environment?

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoy it and will savor more from some talented writers whose links are below.

https://vocal.media/fiction/i-am-the-feathered-serpent

https://vocal.media/fiction/kaboom

https://vocal.media/fiction/the-broken-canvas-ow66t70gox