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Promises

             But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. (Ruth 1:16-18)

            When Naomi (I’ve been calling her Ruth – oops) headed back to Israel, both her daughters-in-law wanted to go with her. She convinced Orpah to return to her home, but Ruth (the real Ruth) refused. Her statement of dedication is beautiful and used in wedding ceremonies. It’s a bold declaration that deserves a little consideration. Is there anyone you would honestly say it to? What about God?

            Where you go, I will go. “Pack your bag and pull out your English-Spanish dictionary, we’re moving to Nezo-Chalko-Itza![1] Aren’t you excited?” Or, “Guess what, we’re moving to Arizona, where the temperature soars over 100, and there are lots of spiders.” Or, simpler, “I’m going over there to talk to that repulsive person….”

            Where you stay, I will stay. Oh? The trip to Nezo-Chalko-Itza isn’t a three-day vacation? It’s permanent? The job you hate is yours for the next thirty years? You mean I’m supposed to stay married to this horrible person?

            Your people will be my people. Yeah, but the church is full of hypocrites.

            Your God, my God. Even though it’s not the god I served all my life. Even though it demands my all.

            Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. It’s not even a case of “until death do we part.” It goes beyond that.

            It comes to mind to suggest an exercise.  Ask God to speak to you, to reveal where you are lacking. Pray the passage aloud, with God as the one to whom you make the promises. Is there somewhere that you find difficult to say as if you mean it? Talk to God about it. Alternatively, take the passage apart, praying about and meditating on each piece for a day.


[1] The world’s largest slum, located in or near Mexico City

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