Sadie Hawkins Day

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (Ruth 3:6-9 ESV).

This year is designated as a “leap year.” Without going into great detail, suffice it to say this “extra” day, designated as February 29th every four years, catches us up with our calendar. There is also another tradition that has evolved around leap year. It began from a cartoon written and drawn by Al Capp. The cover from 1937 is pictured with today’s devotional. In the cartoon series, the mayor of Dogpatch was desperate to marry off his daughter. So he created Sadie Hawkin's Day. On this day, a race was held and all the single men were given a short head start. Then, all the single women, including the mayor's daughter, chased the boys. If a girl catches her man, he had to marry her. I remember the role reversal dances of my high school days named after this holiday very well! Our reading today recalls an experience not too far from these traditions. In fact, as you read the story of Boaz, it seems that Boaz has been forced into in a highly embarrassing position, not to say a thoroughly compromising one. He, meanwhile, sleeps the sleep of the just after a day’s work well done and a satisfying supper until he wakes up to what has been going on. There is a woman lying at his feet! I’m sure the surprise and wonder was exaggerated even more when she asks him to “spread the corner of his garment over her.” The Good News Bible translates this euphemism bluntly as “Please marry me.” I wonder in how many countries around the world such a thing would happen today. It certainly isn’t as rare as it once was in America. However, it wasn’t that long ago when the “tradition” used to be that only on February 29th might the woman propose to the man. Of course, our reading has nothing to do with Leap Year. Ruth is simply appealing to a custom that everyone in Israel knew. Boaz is a “kinsman-redeemer,” and she is asking him to take up the same responsibility for her that her husband, Mahlon, had before he died. The wonder for us is in how this gives us the blueprint which God has laid down for the life of his people designed to make that sort of relationship possible. On God’s loving laws Ruth bases her hopes. So our hope is in Jesus. He is our Kinsman-Redeemer! Trust Him everyday!