Especially on Easter Sunday when we hear the word “resurrection” I suspect many, if not most of us, think of some version of the Biblical New Testament discussion of Jesus’ death, his bodily disappearance, and his subsequent reappearances to a few women and disciples.  That is not my focus this morning.

Today we will reflect on two true stories involving people who dramatically transformed their lives.  One such person is a former Wall Street banker who became a confidant of the homeless, sex workers, and drug addicts.  The second story involves a group of queer, black-led women who paid the bail that set free 14 incarcerated women, most of whom were jailed only because they couldn’t afford bail.  I’m suggesting that these freed women and the former Wall Street banker experienced resurrection.  In the words of Elaine Pages, they experienced “a transition into newness.”

Dick Smythe is an entomologist retired from the research division of the US Forest Service. Throughout his life he has maintained two dominant interests: first, his fascination with the natural world – our non-human environment and endless source of wonder; second, his abiding interest in religion/theology – a subject of continuing education and challenge.