Calamity and loss seem to be the continued headlines in our newspapers. From tornado-ravaged towns, to devastating drought and fires, to earthquake and hurricane-flooded cities...many in this world of ours know what it's like to feel stripped down to nothing like Naomi in chapter one of Ruth.
When life collapsed in on Naomi, she felt sure that God had turned against her. Standing in the ashes of her life, she could not foresee any sign of hope in her future. All she knew now was that she felt stripped... her life empty, barren, filled only with bitterness. But, Naomi wasn't the only one to have experienced loss in this story. Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, had also seen bitter days.
Let's take some time this week to walk back through chapter one once more. Open your Bibles and read the chapter with Ruth in mind, using the Holy Spirit's creativity to step into her shoes and hear, see, and feel what might have been going on inside of her.