an open letter to the closed
“but pride is a sin!” their love compelled them to say
“if you reject god’s will, power, word, you are proud.”
when their attempts at care couldn’t make me unknow myself,
we parted ways, at least on these earthly planes
but if we ever should speak again,
i won’t nod outwardly and cower inwardly
i will tell them that the pride they deride
has brought me closer to god
than his people ever did
that pride introduced me
to a loving, diverse, justice-focused force
a radical, vocal, quiet storm that destroys and rebuilds
a brighter, warmer, stronger light
which looks at darkness and says, “we can do better.”
it gifted me with a more complete god
one whose creativity and compassion
come from common springs
who pours out grace and mercy from measureless cups
and listens, teaches, loves without condition
pride showed me that i am born of that image
that someone knew the world would need me, need us
our softness and strength
our capacity to love more and discriminate less
we have been given a sacred vision, a calling
to speak and hold and cry and stand – with, for, behind, beside.
all of this comes from love, all of it is on purpose
all of it is good, good, good.
so if our paths align once more, and they continue
to protest, chastise, or lament these wondrous things
that we have done, are doing, and will do
i will breathe. i will smile.
and i will say, “we are pride.”