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| Near Murmansk, Northern Russia. Image by Tom Thiel |
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A GREETING
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
(Psalm 122:8)
A READING
Do not reach out your hand for everything you see,
and do not crowd your neighbour at the dish.
Judge your neighbour’s feelings by your own,
and in every matter be thoughtful.
(Sirach 31:14-15)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
Do not plan harm against your neighbour
who lives trustingly beside you.
(Proverbs 3:29)
A POEM
Two mists came to meet by the water.
One came from the lake – the pink one.
The other from the forest – the violet one
– Who are you?
– I am the mist.
– And I am the mist, too.
– Then, why don’t I see you?
– I don’t see you either …
And all the meanwhile a young deer lay close by in the thicket,
chewing the grass, his eyes closed, and he saw and heard everything.
- from "Morning at the Lake," by Yuri Vella
found on Stephan Dudeck – Arctic Fieldwork
VERSE OF THE DAY
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace!
(Luke 2:14)
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| Kirovsk, Northern Russia. Image by Tom Thiel |
Over the border from Finland and Norway is Russia’s Kola Peninsula, a strategic military stronghold. Meanwhile, Russia has different communities of Indigenous peoples living in the Arctic across separate vast regions. The Nenets, Tartars, Dolgan, Sámi, Yupik and Khanty peoples all live above the Arctic Circle.
The Nenets people live throughout the western regions of Arctic Russia. Like the Sámi, their lives revolve around the reindeer, and every part of the animal is used. The Nenets are primarily Nomadic peoples who follow the reindeer, traveling with them. Climate change and industrial development have deeply impacted them: increased oil and fossil fuel mining has disrupted the migratory path of the reindeer. (This National Geographic video describes the problem.) Additionally, Nenets young people are increasingly drawn to life in the south, where they study and lead very different lives. The future of both the reindeer and the Nenets is very much at risk.
The simple instruction from Sirach on how to be a good neighbour speaks to Nenets customs and way of life. Everything is shared in common within the community because in a nomadic life no one can be left behind. How far is this from how we live our own lives? How much simpler would our daily decisions be if we thought first about our neighbour’s wellbeing before our own?
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A PORTRAIT OF THE NENETS
This video has no narration: it follows life in one Nenets family as they prepare meals. It is focused largely on the children, including those with responsibilities. Although not visible in the video, Nenets do have computers and phones. Large blocks of snow are brought in to make water that boils all day long, and is used for cooking. How will this way of life continue to be impacted by Arctic mining?
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Resources in today's devotion:
Scripture passages are taken from The New Revised Standard Version.
Full lyrics for "Ocean of God's Love," can be found in English in the youtube notes of the recording. Yuri Vella was a Nenets reindeer herder, poet and environmental activist.
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LC† Streams of Living Justice is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!