Boaz

So what if it's three o'clock in the morning and I have an 8am lab? Sleep is more of a recommendation than an actual necessity right?

I really like the book of Ruth, and I like to read it like a love story. In my head, Boaz fell in love with Ruth the minute he saw her. And the most romantic verse in the bible, to me, is the last verse of chapter 3: "Then said she [Naomi to Ruth], Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day."

Now that I look at it again, I suppose I could see how this could look like a bit of an odd verse to call romantic. But that part always gets me - "for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day."

Boaz, knowing what to do to make Ruth his wife, didn't dilly dally around. He stepped to it and got all the legal matters out of the way as quickly as he could. That was the romantic part. She meant so much to him that he didn't hesitate. He went forward with determination and assuredness that this was important. He won't go to sleep tonight without it being done. He won't stop for a long lunch. He won't pause by the edge of the road to admire a field, and he won't stop to buckle his sandle for more time than it requires. To think that this man did this so urgently because he felt so certain of me...that is the most romantic thing.

And really I'm not wrong to inject myself into the story. Because it's a picture of someone who did do it for me. For me. Of all people. Me. And he didn't rest either.

Another verse that I find romantic is Solomon 1:15. "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes." Which is another kind of odd one to think so sweet I guess. Doves' eyes look a little vapid to me honestly. But I watched a three hour documentary about pigeons one time (yeah, I'm that person) and it said they mate for life. They have eyes only for their singular compantion. So really, it's a high compliment. Sort of lovey-dovey. (Yeah, I'm that person too.)

And preachers say when something gets repeated, it's important. So there's a lot of emphasis on my "fair-ness." To me, though, I know I am anything but. I know I am just as wretched as the most wicked of sinners, so there's obviously a breakdown in communication somewhere right? Somebody has eye problems and I'm just lucky he sees me as fair and not as trees walking about? Well...sort of. The Lord sees me as I have been cleansed and all my sins erased. I was vile, but am white as snow. This is important - He saw me and loved me in all my blackness and claimed me without hesitation. And I should have doves' eyes for him because of all that my Boaz has done for me.