Ruth 1, Jeremiah 3:6-4:4, Luke 8:40-46, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 37: Yesterday our travels took us to Mt. Saint Hellens Washington. If you are my age you might remember that in the 1980 the volcano that formed that mountain erupted and took off over 1300 ft. of the mountain face. The results were devastating. Everything within miles were charred and even more was covered with ash. Everything was scorched! It took years for vegetation to begin to grow again, but today even to the mountains edge there are trees, grass, flowers and wildlife.
You may wonder what this has to do with our scripture today. I believe it is a beautiful picture of the book of Ruth. Naomi had left her homeland when things were good for her family. As she said, she was full. But with the death of her husband and then her two sons everything blew up and her life was charred. She was scorched and as she said she was bitter. In the next couple of days we will see how her life becomes full again, but as I read of her great loss my heart felt for her just as those who suffered so much loss at the hand of the volcano. Ash may be covering your life right now, or you may even be feeling the effects of a scorched heart from burning fire of hurt of anger. You too may be bitter as Naomi said, BUT in time there will be life again if you turn to the Creator of All things. He can and will make all things new again. That is the message of Jeremiah and the story of the woman with the issue of blood that we read about in Luke today. Each one that chose to turn to God saw new life. You will to my friend.
And just as the base of Mt. St. Hellens teams with life and beauty today you too will find joy again. Your life may never be the same again and you may have lost a part of you, but you will live again.