Pg. 39: Escape from a Siberian Gulag, into the Taiga

Escape from a Siberian Gulag, into the Taiga, but…

Escape from the Gulag:

  • a dream of the night (2009′ or so).

Some context:

  • As a young adult I read, “The Gulag Archipelago” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. This dream was reminiscent of those books to me.

The dream:

  • I was in a poorly run very overcrowded prison…
  • I escaped into a winter forest.
  • (I don’t know how I know this but I believe in this dream, that it took place in Siberia.)
  • Once out in the winter forest I then became certain that I would not survive out there due to the very harsh climate and lack of resources, so…
  • I then escaped the forest by breaking back into the prison, undetected, and dwelt there, without the establishment knowing of it.
  • The prisoners clothing was ragged. Conditions were dismal. Crime was rampant.
  • The prison population was under somewhat of a self control, by various gangs.
  • Not all however, in this prison, were criminals, but dissidents of a corrupt government.
  • I saw this dream as being indicative of my present state, I had escaped the world (went to the forest) and was now back in it.

Paul:

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?  But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.  1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-13 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.5.9-13.NASB

  • We are not expected to go out of this world.¹
  • But to be, not of this world while in it.¹

Jesus:

¹I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.  JOHN 17:15-19 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.17.15-19.NASB