Sunday 12th July

We’ll I’m not sure if the team left me ‘til last because they had supreme confidence in me or no confidence at all. I get the grave yard shift as it were. The slot when no one will read the blog cause we’ve finished looking at Ruth in the services … I suppose the advantage of going last is that I can look at the story of Ruth as a whole; but don’t worry I will still look at Chapter 4, because Chapter 4 is important. At first glance you may think it’s just the tail end of the story; the ‘happy ever after’ last song at the end of the musical - but some important things happen in chapter 4. Some important theological points are made. And whilst we may have heard the talk at Church today, how it impacts our lives this week is the important thing. Head knowledge is great, heart knowledge is better.

 

Now some confessions as we start this blogging week together…. Just so you know what you’re letting yourself in for –

 

I start sentences with the ‘wrong’ words a lot, and that annoys some people. And & Because & But. I know my English teacher told me I couldn’t do it, but he never actually convinced me as to why I couldn’t (I’m sure someone out there will) and I think if its good enough for the Bible (Rmns 3:21) then it’s ok for me. And I’m not very good with apostrophes (or is it apostrophes’ ? or apostrophe’s ?) just so you know.

 

I also get distracted when I’m writing. In fact I get distracted a lot. I wonder if my life is just one big distraction actually, but then again its what we do in our ‘distraction’ moments that tells us most about who we are doesn’t it ?

 

And now I’ve been at the Forge a year or so you’ve probably noticed that I tell stories alot. Not lies but stories. All the stories I tell have really happened to me. But I embellish and take artistic licence. I believe hyperbole is okay in its right place – after all Jesus did it. In these blogs you’ll read lots of stories about me and my life and my family and my loves and my passions and my joys and my heartaches. What I am saying is that these blogs are about my reflections on Ruth. Sorry but that’s the way it is. Hopefully some of what I say may resonate with you and where you are at.

 

Boaz marries Ruth and, after a slight hiccup with a sandal, all’s well that ends well. Isn’t it ? I mean they are now married, and that as we all know means no arguments. No fighting. No despising. No frustration. No pain. No looking at the other person asleep next to you and having the faint wish of “I wonder what would have been if I’d never married you”. Because as Christians our lives are perfect aren’t they ? Aren’t they ?

I am sure beyond all doubt that life for Boaz & Ruth wasn’t all plain sailing from this moment on. That they argued and fought and cried and sometimes in the dark night of the soul wished they’d never married.

 

Well welcome to my world. My life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Of extreme ups I think, and the downiest of the downs. Maybe one day I’ll tell you my story.

 

But the key is not letting those moments hold us back. The lessons from the book of Ruth demonstrate to you and to me the power of effective ‘closure’ (to use a naff American phrase) of whatever has occurred in our past. Closure of that ‘something’ that troubles a lot of us. Each and every one of us has a story. Each and every one of us has a past. Mine is probably no worse and not better than yours. Each and every one of us has something that we're still dealing with. The story of Ruth & Boaz & Naomi & Elimilech & the unnamed characters provides an answer. A way to not let the normal stuff of life hold us back as we walk with our God.

 

Until tomorrow

 

Ps.   Steve has been boasting in the office that his blog has had the most readers, but I reckon that is just because of his ENORMOUS extended family reading it out of familiaral loyalty. I personally think its hilarious that not one of his kids read it.