“The Glitch.” Have you ever got into a project only to discover there is one more form to fill out, one more office to visit, or one more unanticipated thing to do? It is so frustrating. Prayers that are answered “no,” while disappointing give us a clear path. We can grieve, eat a donut and move on. It is the care-plans that require waiting for some unforeseen step that are challenging. Ruth has done all that her mother-in-law has advised. She has worked hard, gleaning in the fields, exposing herself to rejection at the threshing floor at night, and then she hears, “Wait.” Boaz is appreciative, understands her proposal of marriage, says that all the townsmen know of what noble character Ruth is BUT there is a kinsman redeemer who has first opportunity to redeem Naomi’s property including Ruth.
The questions must have swirled in Ruth’s mind. Did Naomi not know there was another man who had first choice? Will she be part of an agreement to someone she has not worked to know and whom she respects? I can imagine that confidence in herself and in her relationships must have collapsed. My daughter has been waiting for six months to cross into Canada for a job she accepted. President Elect is waiting for the turnover to start. Others wait by the bedside of a beloved with Covid. We wait for the vaccine. Waiting is hard work and challenging to our souls. We live in a “now” generation.
Ruth hears Boaz’s word that he will deal with the issue that day. She returns home to Naomi and reports in and Naomi encourages her that Boaz will settle the words. So frustrating! Care plans take time to unfold. It takes work to get everyone onboard for the action. Getting the whole family to agree that a relative has Alzheimer’s and which facility to use is complicated. Waiting for the acceptance letter to the college of your choice is nerve racking. In fact, we often spend time waiting for life to unfold.
We do not read that Ruth kept her anxiety inside herself or resorted to eating donuts or drinking alcohol. She just waited. We can imagine how she filled the hours. How do we wait when answers to prayers delay? Do we accuse God of having a glass ceiling? Do we get irritated with everyone around us? Do we despair and resort to comfort escapes? Sharing our situation with a friend often brings comfort and support. King David had to wait for God’s promise of kingship to materialize. He wrote a lot of poetry, psalms, during that time. Psalm 27:10-14 says
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
As we wait today for our care plans to be worked out, may we wait on the Lord. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 