Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
Why have these words captured our imaginations for centuries? I've seen them etched on homes, I've seen them as plaques in entryways, as counted crossstitch, on quilts, in any artistic format you can imagine. What is it about these words that captures our thoughts and our hopes and dreams so?
I think it has something to do with our deepest desire as people. We long to belong. We long to belong to someone, to have people be loyal to us, to be loved unconditionally and strongly. We long for someone to promise that no matter what happens they'll never leave our side. Because we know too well that friendship and love and human commitment are all too often fragile.
But we also know the other side - the more beautiful and graceful side. We know that there are commitments in life that hold. We know that there are people and communities of belonging and meaning. We know that there are people who will stick by and with us throughout whatever life brings. May the church be such a place!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember to join us for worship next Sunday at 8:30 and 11. It's Youth Sunday. Come and see what they've prepared for us.
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