I would rather be...

‘Oh Lord, I wanna be in that number
when the revolution comes.’ from ‘O when the saints…’

I would rather be the one beaten
than the one doing the beating
I would rather be kind and betrayed for it
than the one too mistrusting to be kind

I would rather welcome the refugee and migrant
than the one turning them away
I would rather love and suffer for it
than to not suffer being too fearful to love.

I would rather own up to the sins of my people
than deny them in the hope of not paying for them
I would rather be ridiculed for being privileged
than to deny it and hide behind its thick walls

I would rather be merciful and suffer for it
than be right and not suffer at all
I would rather be vulnerable and hurt for it
than be protected from all hurt and all wrong.

I would rather be welcomed by the homeless
than lauded in the corridors of power
I would rather be identified by the invisible
than praised by the highly esteemed.

Would I really?
I can say it, but that’s not where it matters.
Where it matters is ‘can I live it?’
Not alone, I know, not alone.