Canadian Inuits

A story of forgiveness

The story……

• This heart-warming story took place in 2006 in north east Canada.

• The indigenous Inuit people were very upset with the white Canadian community.

• There had been a lot of ill-feeling and ‘argy bargy’ between the two communities. The Inuit were very unhappy about the poor stewardship of their traditional hunting lands. They blamed the white Canadian community.

What was the response?

• The Inuit began to humble themselves and repent for the bitterness and rage they felt towards the white settlers. And the white posse joined in.

• They decided to take communion together and there was a lot of repentance and forgiveness was freely shared.

• Two days later 15,000 caribou turned up at the precise place where the communion service had taken place. Everyone in the nearby town got to hear about this ‘nature’ miracle.

• The Inuit have also seen whales coming back after these ‘healing the land’ ceremonies.

Repentance

Application of the story

• This story helps us to understand the liberating power of the death of Jesus. When we take communion we are reminding ourselves that Jesus lived and died in our place.

• Study Mark 14: 22-25. Further to this the kingdom of God can bring healing and reconciliation not only to individual believers but to entire communities and even to the animal kingdom.

• The gospel of King Jesus brings forgiveness and healing to the entire creation. Mark helped us to understand this when he wrote that – Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

View of the caribouWhere are we?

• We are living in God’s most bodacious world.

• It’s a cracker!

• Our close friends the reindeer agree with us that the Lord has provided us with delicious grass and superb drinking water.

Who are we?

• We are posh deer and we sport impressive antlers.

• We are ruminants and we normally eat lichens, sedges and grasses.

• We have no interest in poetry or philosophy.

What’s gone wrong?

• The creatures called human-beingswho were supposed to look after usand keep us in line have rebelled against the Lord.

• It’s all gone pear-shaped.

What’s the solution?

• The reindeer who are brighter than ushave told us that King Jesus has arrivedand has proclaimed His kingdom rule.

• If humans get in line and obey Him,things will get much better both for usand the entire creation.

What happens when I die?

• Frankly we don’t know but we are confident that when heaven comes down to earth (Rev 21) our enemies the wolveswill be buddies with the lambs and that can’t be all bad.