Saturday, August 11
Hurry Up and Wait
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.
Boaz was on his way to the city to find the next-of-kin that had first claim on marriage with Ruth. Ruth and Naomi were back home waiting.
For Ruth and Naomi, this would be an important day. One of two things was going to happen. Either the next-of-kin would agree to marry Ruth, or he would decline the opportunity and Boaz would marry Ruth. I have to wonder what it must have been like to know that by the end of the day you would be engaged to be married -- but to whom?
Maybe you know what this is like (not the unknown fiance part, but the wait to see your fate part). It's when you've done everything you can do and now you have to wait for someone else to determine the outcome. It's a powerless feeling, and it can be really stressful. Here's where the Serenity Prayer can be tremendously helpful...
God, grant me the
serenity to accept the things I cannot change
courage to change the things I can and
wisdom to know the difference.
~Reinhold Niebuhr
There's no point worrying about things you have no control over. All you can do is all you can do. Then let it go. No, seriously. Let it go.
Narrative Lectionary Text: Ruth 3:16-18
She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”