1 John 2:15-17
DEVOTION FOR TODAY, March 27, 2020
“Socially Distanced”
Another Woman, Socially Distanced – I only heard of her “true” story, so I am calling her Alina to protect her privacy.
As a believer, Alina is living in the Northern most part of Siberia. She has lost her father, mother and sisters and now lives a life of almost complete isolation. She and her family had escaped Religious Persecution by moving farther and farther into Northern parts of Siberia.
Years ago a group heard about her family and came to see about them. This time there was one in the group who was sick during their visit. Alina blames their viral germs for causing the sickness and subsequent death of some of her family members. Even Alina got sick, but later recovered.
Joining this group was also a geologist who wanted to study the area . . . so he decided to stay. He lives within a few stones throws. He and Alina have kept their distance from each other but at times meet up, talk, then argue . . . Both are now in their early 70s. Rare visitors might inquire about their relationship. Both his and her stories and/or memories about their encounters are so vastly different that it’s anybody’s guess what the real story is . . . Or if some of their communications and bits of anything and everything is a figment of each one’s imagination.
Alina’s day begins at six in the morning. In prayer and in song, she visits with the Lord, prepares something to eat and does her chores.
The snow rarely melts. There is bread to make from some of the grains she has ground, wood to chop, water to carry for drinking, cooking, washing and bathing . . . Fish to “dry”, eggs to gather and vegetables to either cook or preserve.
Concerned citizens have supplied her with a satellite phone so she can call in case of an emergency. And recently, there have been mishaps even though she is and has been used to the ruggedness of her hardscrabble life.
Rare are visitors because it takes days to get there over miles and miles of rugged terrain and unpredictable weather . . . Best mode, probably by helicopter. They will check ahead to see what supplies she can use. She is very particular about what and how she accepts anything foreign other than the basics . . . To one of the last visitors, she had requested a goat.
She has an acute sense of humor with an innocent and childlike behavior.
When I wondered around our flowers and opening buds, taking photos, when I washed in the automatic washer, or cooked on the electric stove today, I thought how simple my life seems in comparison to hers.
She starts her day like this tulip . . . Getting ready to bloom.
