Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favour.’ She said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, ‘The Lord be with you.’ They answered, ‘The Lord bless you.’ Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, ‘To whom does this young woman belong?’ The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, ‘She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.” So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.’

Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’ But Boaz answered her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’

1. Living in a Refugee Camp
2. What facts about the United States do foreigners not beleive until they come to America
3. One Story of an Interfaith Marriage
4. On Being a Foreigner

1. When have you been shown favor?
2. Who would you turn to if you lost everything?
3. When have you been most lost (physically or otherwise)?
4. In what ways can scarcity be a blessing from God?

IMAGE

1. Daughter, by Pearl Jam
2. Daughters, by John Meyer
3. Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth, by Neko Case
4. Don’t Follow, by Alice in Chains
5. Stay, by Lisa Loeb and Seven Stories
6. I Could Stay, by Loney Dear
7. What Have I become? by Loney Dear
8. Loney Blues, by Loney Dear
9. I Won’t See You, by Desert Noises
10. When Will I See You Again, by Lord Huron
11. The Refugee, by U2
12. Two Hearts Beat as One, by U2
13. Desire, by U2
14. Magnetized, by Wilco
15. So Far Away, by Carol King
16. Homesick, by Kings of Convenience
17. Come Back Home, by Pete Yorn
18. Last Mile Home, Kings on Leon
19. My Best Friend’s Girl, by The Cars
20. Just What I Needed, by The Cars

HAIKU

Clinging onto you
I see my need in your pain
and my salvation.