During Advent, we remember the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem all those years ago and we anticipate his promised return. In this middle space, we live in the tension of patience and impatience, joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, and hope and despair. Advent invites us to bring our pain, our hurts, and all the unresolved parts of our lives to God in hope. The book of Ruth is also a middle space full of tension. The remarkable women in this book, Naomi and Ruth, have much to teach us about suffering, hope, and redemption. Through their example, we can learn to live well in the middle space, anchored in the hope of Christ’s return.