Taking Part

to follow the reading of Ruth 3–4 

We thank you for Ruth,

her love, her loyalty,

her obedience, her trust; 

and we wonder, was 

it blind, or open-eyed? 

and we pray for all the Ruths,

loving, loyal, obedient

and trusting: may their eyes

see clearly, may they 

always understand. 

We thank you for Naomi,

her care, her protection,

her creative manoeuvre for safety: 

and we wonder, was she there

if reward did not follow the dare? 

and we pray for all Naomis,

on unprotected journeys home,

holding only risky cards to play: 

may our motives, however jumbled,

include each other in our care. 

We thank you for the Story,

for your part, between the lines;

for the Story of your people,

their welcome of the 'other' 

and the part they play – up-front. 

and we pray for our hearing

of your Story, and our part

as people of your Story, open 

to each other and the parts

we all will play. 

Amen. 

Naomi

Ruth 1:1-18 

I said no more to her,
no more to make her
turn from me, return to be
daughter to her mother again,
my friend, my daughter, my
only and my all.

I said no more to her,
no more words, no breath
to speak them, meet the words
she flung at me, wrung for me
from her naked soul, my all,
my friend, my daughter.

I said no more to her,
no more suggestion I could
live beyond her turning, no
denying life's insistence that I
try, and, silenced by the fright
I took her hand and turned for home.