Ruth

It was a beautiful spring day; a very good day to be harvesting grain. Ruth came to a field not too far from her new home. She set down her water skin and began to gather the standing stalks of grain that had been left on the edge of the field. She eventually had an armful and set the bundle down by her water skin and took a drink. The sun was drifting higher into the sky warming the day. She was so thankful that the reapers had left so much grain by the field’s edge. She looked out on the harvesters swinging their scythes and singing strange songs about the God who’s love was never ending and who sent the bounty of the harvest. It was the same name Naomi had spoken of so often. There was a cheer and gladness in the air. After another swig of water Ruth returned to her work of gathering grain.

She had just resuming gathering stalks, after dropping off another bundle and taking another sip of water, when she noticed someone walking toward her across the field; it was a man finely dressed. This was not one of the workers. He must be the owner of the field. Her heart sank, and a lump of sorrow formed in her throat and stomach. She wiped the sweat from her brown and squinted against the sun to make out the mood of his face. It looked like a smile from the distance and the midday sun she couldn’t be sure. Ruth hurried back to the standing grain. She reasoned to herself that though he might expel her from his field surely he would allow her to keep the grain she had gathered or scold her for resting under the shade of the harvester’s tent. Perhaps he would past her, urgent on to attend to business in another field. She looked up again as saw him drawing closer. There was indeed a smile. And he was looking where he walked; directly at her.

Ruth bowed her back and returned her gaze to the grain. She quickened her pace of grabbing stalks. Just a few more and her arm would be full with the next bundle. That might provide a week’s worth of bread if they were careful. As she grabbed another handful of barley she heard the crunch of stubble under the sole of a walker. A few more stalked and out of the corner of her eye she saw the sandals drawing near. As she reached out her hand again the man spoke; “Listen carefully, my dear.” The words were sweet and cheerful, but the paused caused her heart to sink. She let loose of the unpicked stalks and looked up to the man. The dust of the morning clung to her sweat dampened face as she raised her eye, but not her back, to the owner.

He was very well dressed. The graying hair on his head and in his beard revealed that many years had passed in his life. His eyes were dark and surrounded by the skins of years in the sun. But the creases that defined his eyes told the story of laughter and hope. Ruth’s heart began to beat faster as she waited for the rebuke. “Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need to go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside my female workers. Take note of the field where the men are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. I will tell the men to leave you alone. When you are thirsty, you may go to the water jars and drink some of the water the servants draw.”

Tears welled up as she fell to her knees. The God of Naomi has not only filled the heart of her mother-in-law with mercy but even this strange man was a reflection of grace.

 

At least that how I picture it might have happened.

 

Stuart