Many Bible readers are familiar with the story of Ruth, the woman who left her own community in order to go with her mother-in-law to her homeland after both of them had been widowed. It's a moving love story (see sidebar), but it also tells how people from different cultures can get along with each other.
Like most stories in the Bible, Ruth's experiences can be applied and interpreted many ways. For instance, they relate to woman's roles in community affairs, to the value of extraordinary loyalty, and to God's loving care for childless and destitute widows.
Another powerful insight that can be gained from Ruth's story is how community relations can be perfected. At a time of great transition and turmoil in the history of Israel, the authors of Ruth, the story of an outsider, have provided a recipe for the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind.
