When the daughter of a good friend of mine was born, his wife needed to stay home for a time to care for their baby. As was common then, it was the mother who gave up her career for the sake of their child. It is hard when one has developed gifts and skills in work to let it go. In time work remained attractive and necessary and a friend gave care to their daughter out of her generous heart.
With employment, the couple hired a nanny, an immigrant woman from El Salvador, and began the process of sponsoring her citizenship. The relationship between the nanny and their daughter was precious to behold. It was filled with gentle focused care and playfulness. Their nanny was not afraid of work and was industrious both in their daughter's care and other tasks she did about the house. She shared her story with my friends and they grew in understanding.
In time the judgement came that their household did not produce enough income to sponsor their nanny. Together they came on a farm worker provision in the law and financed her journey South to the area where this work was organized. It was a very painful departure for them all. A year later they would learn that their much loved nanny never made that journey. Her fear of too many unmarried men on the buses set in. Perhaps her insecurity born when the junta drove her and others to escape El Salvador set in again. In the home my friends provided her there had been safety, dignity of work and reciprocal care.
It is through the eyes of this much loved El Salvadorian woman that I read the Book of Ruth. The kindness of Boaz makes sense this way. So vulnerable was she as she sought to scrape out an existence. Boaz took note of her, set up safety for her gleaning, saw that extra barley was 'dropped' for her to find, saw that she ate and drank during the day. We can well imagine his motivation was mixed. In part it was based on the religious/cultural law of care. In part it was created by her industrious care of her mother-in-law, soul attraction. In part it seems to be physical attraction. Whatever the mix, he goes beyond the letter of the Law to provide safety and care which honor the industrious nature of Ruth, an immigrant tasting poverty. He also honors God whose tracings are seen in care offered. Truth is this care costs him little. It does not radically change anyone's circumstances. Yet, it keeps him open to the Source of care.
It is a prayer when Naomi says, "Blessed be the man who took notice of you," and “Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Ruth 2:19-20 This is a moment of gratitude which sees God's possibility in a moment of extra care, for it is God who instructs the faithful heart/mind. Every moment of relief is counted when you are so close to non-existence.
Societies are structured to care or not to care, to care well or poorly. Some ethical system will guide them. The Judeo-Christian tradition has guided the West though we may differ on how deeply it should be reflected in government care, it is basic to the world view of the past. When dealing with God's poor we do well to bless God and ask what care reflects God. Some lose sight of this value as scriptural and core.
"Jesus said, 'What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’ And again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened...Strive to enter through the narrow door;’ " Luke 13:18-20, 24
This Kingdom is built on Godly care, on seeing the hand of God in our prosperity and adversity. Plant this care in your life and it will grow. More than you will prosper in its shade. Massage it into your heart and it will rise. You will find capacity that will stretch your imaginings. Let this be your narrow door. Let the law of God's care stretch to include more than you with abundance of care.
Perhaps you will hear one day, “Blessed be he/she by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Ruth 2:20
My friend's former nanny eventually found safety, has a family, has built a free life. They still think on her with love. Who cared for whom? Whose care was greater? Does it matter? Together, they were all part of a greater flow of care.
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