Easter Trash

Dear Sutton and Savannah,

When I was a kid, I don’t remember anyone talking about recycling, or taking care of the environment. The mantra, “reuse, repurpose, recycle” was years away from nearly anyone’s consciousness. “Dispose, discard and buy more” was what kept the economy growing. I remember a time when people would throw trash out the car window as you were going down the highway. And I also remember a powerful commercial that showed some trash being thrown out a car window and coming to a stop by the feet of a Native American, who had a tear coming down his cheek at the disrespect shown to creation. Fortunately things have changed, but maybe not enough. (And maybe not enough in the inward journey.)

-Dad

Inside Out Lectionary Letters

Year A - Easter Sunday (Texts, Art, Hymns)

Readings for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

Acts 10:34-43/ Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 / Colossians 3:1-4 / John 20:1-18

Summary of Psalm 118

Psalm 118 depicts a journey from distress and threat to deliverance and renewed life. It might have been a communal song used in a processional while traveling toward the temple. So, maybe a song about an inward journey while on a literal journey to the sacred space of the temple.

Scripture as Mirror of the Soul

The shadow side of the psyche develops alongside the ego. As children, we learn which behaviors and expressions are rewarded and which are punished or dismissed. The traits that earn approval become part of the “acceptable self.” This is the ego identity we show to the world. In contrast, the traits that bring disapproval get pushed into the background, discarded, trashed. They do not vanish—they are simply hidden. These hidden aspects form the shadow side of our life.

Shadow traits are not “bad” or wrong, nor do they always carry negative connotations. Some may be positive qualities like creativity, tenderness, or assertiveness that, for whatever reason, didn’t feel safe to express in childhood. Others may be painful emotions like anger or grief.

The re-emergence of an unexpressed part of yourself, a part you previously discarded or trashed, can feel threatening for several reasons. First, and maybe foremost, it challenges identity. If you have spent years presenting yourself as strong, independent, or cheerful, facing a vulnerable or angry part may feel like betrayal. The ego has a tough time letting go of the curated way it has come to present itself to others. But when we engage and listen to these rejected parts, they often transform into sources of energy, strength and growth.

• The anger you fear may be the energy you need to set boundaries.

• The sadness you push away may open the door to empathy.

• The creativity you repress may be the path to joy and meaning.

The psalmist writes in verse 22, that “the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” This is the movement of the entire psalm; the resurrection of that which has been discarded into that which becomes a cornerstone of life and strength. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: May we pay attention to this principle in our inmost being as we journey to the sacred space within.

Amen