Empty | Full
“I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty,” says Naomi, a grieving widow and mother, within the first chapter of the Old Testament book of Ruth. Little does she suspect that over the course of the next three months that she and her daughter-in-law are about to experience a series of fortune reversals that reflect the incredible redemptive character of God. Naomi will soon be full once more. What an incredible and hopeful story.
From May 3-5, 2021, students and alumni from British Columbia and Manitoba participated in Ruth Conference, where they journeyed together through the story of Ruth. Through podcasts, livestream Bible studies and offline activities, participants had opportunities to track with characters within Ruth. Along the way, they had space to uncover the subtle ways that God works to bring about the redemption, not just of individuals, but of the whole of creation.
Through the conference, participants had several opportunities to respond creatively. The ‘Empty | Full’ Art Gallery features artwork inspired by the many ways that God has been revealing himself and inviting participants to join in his redemptive movement that we too are invited into.
Welcome to Empty | Full. May you receive the artists’ work as a blessing and encouragement and may you too hear the invitation to walk from emptiness into the fullness of God’s loving and loyal care.
Attention: A few of the artworks contain reference to sensitive content. It is not explicit or graphic. These have been marked *sensitive content*.
a liturgy for when all that comes are tears
Sarah Penney
In studying Naomi, we talked about honesty with our emotions. This reminded me of a prayer I wrote a few months ago and I decided to take portions of that to write a liturgy for when tears are all that come. When words are hard to form, and emotions demand to be felt.
cling to me
Kathy Zhu
Like Naomi, I am learning that even when we have nothing to give, God still loves us because His hesed is not based on who I am but who He is – generous, loyal, faithful, even when it costs him everything.
Scripture References: Ruth 1:5;14;16;18-22 and Psalm 139:7-8
Story of Ruth
Derek Joyce
This was made before Ruth Con as a way to promote the conference for students. This is a playful take on the book of Ruth. Original lyrics by Austin Fedchuk and Derek Joyce.
Ruth Con Poem
Ashley Brettell
My poem expresses fullness by learning about Ruth in her journey of life and emotions. Through Ruth, God has taught me to listen to the universe and myself. God has helped me to process my thoughts and emotions to what will happen in my life currently and in the future.
ḥesed
Sophia Lee
@sophiahelee
The book of Ruth showed me that I can show ḥesed to God as well as those around me by continuing to come back and reach out, even when I can’t perceive a response.
Obed's Lullaby
Derek Joyce
Obed means “servant” or “servant of God”. This song is told from Boaz’ perspective, singing to his son of the hesed and generosity that mark his lineage. Boaz couldn’t have known, but his son would become the grandfather of King David and ancient ancestor to the Servant King, Jesus.
Lyrics:
Oh my son, you were born to a beautiful song
Of love calling out to hear grace sing along
Your mother the holy fire
Set our lives off with her blaze
Your were named by your people a servant through and through
Herald of security the sweetest and the first of fruit
You are the clearer of the ashes
The finest summer dress
Obed your heritage is quiet with the character of kings
Brought into an age of men shouting loudly for their own schemes
Oh my son the first shall be the last and the servant royalty
Oh the dust is catching up to me serve the Lord and live kindly
Ready
Jada Schellenberg
@jada_schellenberg
This past week I allowed my heart to lament and grieve along with Naomi. As I sat in the pain of what this past year has been, a still, small voice whispered, “this is the perfect position for newness, harvest, and growth.” This simple sketch came out of that moment.
Breakout Room
Matthew Baysa
@matthewbaysa
It’s called “Breakout Rooms” because I first heard these chords in my head during the Naomi manuscript study breakout rooms, and after that session I kinda just kept hearing these chords looping in my head during our small group conversations, and whenever the book of Ruth was being discussed.
Under His Wings
Joyce Wong
@wonderwoven
“Though my heart’s undone,
Let me stay Your daughter”
— from “Hesed, Amen” by Candace Coker
Like Naomi, even in our grief and loss, even when we feel empty, we who are God’s children are covered under His wings (Psalm 91:1,4) and lack no good thing (Psalm 34:8-10). He has a harvest in store for us, though we may not see it now (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).”
Ruth: A Portrait of A Leader
Alan Thorimbert and Bryn Vargas
Throughout the spring semester BC students and staff have been considering how we can use our influence for the sake of blessing others and honouring God. When viewed from this lens we see the vast influence Ruth carries despite hardship in her vulnerable position as a widow, woman, and foreigner.
clinging to His promises
Vikki Moon
@vikki.moon
This picture (by my mother) reminds me to cling onto God and His promises like Ruth did and like my mother does. She shows me what a modern-day Ruth could look like and the beauty of clinging to His promises each new day. May you be reminded that God’s hesed/loyal love is still here with us now.
One Thing They Didn't See
Joshua Kim
@joshuakim9516
This is a poem based on the relationship between Boaz and Ruth. Just like Boaz who comes to Ruth the foreigner, God comes to those who are unloved and low in rank and embraces them with love.
walking down a path
Jaeun (Jae) Yoo
I wanted to share on how God can erase pain. I also want to talk about how God never abandons people. I want to share contrast between walking with God and walking alone. God always invites people to walk with him. One step towards God is all it takes.
Identity Shift *sensitive content*
Jean Kim
@jeann.kim, linktr.ee/jeankim
During RuthCon, my emotional response was different from how I normally receive scripture. It confirmed that my experience of grief, isolation, and burden following the Atlanta shootings is changing how I am able to engage. This poem is about navigating this shift and my uncertainty of how to adapt or recover. In the prayer, I borrow from Hillsong UNITED’s “Even When it Hurts.”
A Bundle of Hope
Cristyn Bergen
@c_h0gue
A repeated theme for me throughout the conference has been the phrase “Your Story is Good” as sung by Candace on the mixtape. Out of all the characters in Ruth, God has seeped me into the story of Naomi. Her story was painful but it was good. “A Bundle of Hope” is the moment Naomi has a turning point in her situation. In Ruth 2, Ruth brings home a bundle of Barely. Naomi’s eyes light up and she asks, “Where did you glean today.” This bundle of barely was the start of hope in Naomi’s story.
The hesed of Grandpa T.
A.E. Thorimbert
@a.e.thorimbert
When I first began reading the story of Ruth, I kept getting held up on this idea of loving-kindness. I had all this all this childhood baggage around the word that made it difficult to see that kindness could ever be real or good. As I’ve excavated this practice of hesed over the past few months and past week, I have found myself overwhelmed with childhood memories of Sunday school and Thorimbert family traditions which are full of examples of loving-kindness that Ruth models for us.
The hessed love I don’t deserve
Rebecca Tsow
@rebeccatsow
As I shut down my work and start getting ready for bed, I always see this little face peering into my room. My dog is one of the biggest embodiments of hessed love in my life — no matter what mood I’m in, how little attention I give him or how late it is, he’s always right there, accompanying me affectionately!
Fields of Barley
Dave Nguyen-Stone
@daveyvonstone
What decisions do we make out of how our families set us up in life? This song imagines Boaz living generously with his inheritance, but left with a decision. Will he ultimately redeem an outsider? Could we imagine ordinary generosity leading to our own redemption?
Empty and Full in the Kitchen
Dave Birrell
@davell70
The story of Ruth raises the questions around being empty and being full in both public and private spaces. The modern kitchen is both private and – at its best – a gateway to public gatherings. It holds stories of food security and equity, hospitality, and also can function as a curated gallery of our relationships.
a liturgy for when all that comes are tears
Sarah Penney
In studying Naomi, we talked about honesty with our emotions. This reminded me of a prayer I wrote a few months ago and I decided to take portions of that to write a liturgy for when tears are all that come. When words are hard to form, and emotions demand to be felt.
Ready
Jada Schellenberg
@jada_schellenberg
This past week I allowed my heart to lament and grieve along with Naomi. As I sat in the pain of what this past year has been, a still, small voice whispered, “this is the perfect position for newness, harvest, and growth.” This simple sketch came out of that moment.
Identity Shift *sensitive content*
Jean Kim
@jeann.kim, linktr.ee/jeankim
During RuthCon, my emotional response was different from how I normally receive scripture. It confirmed that my experience of grief, isolation, and burden following the Atlanta shootings is changing how I am able to engage. This poem is about navigating this shift and my uncertainty of how to adapt or recover. In the prayer, I borrow from Hillsong UNITED’s “Even When it Hurts.”
cling to me
Kathy Zhu
Like Naomi, I am learning that even when we have nothing to give, God still loves us because His hesed is not based on who I am but who He is – generous, loyal, faithful, even when it costs him everything.
Scripture References: Ruth 1:5;14;16;18-22 and Psalm 139:7-8
Breakout Room
Matthew Baysa
@matthewbaysa
It’s called “Breakout Rooms” because I first heard these chords in my head during the Naomi manuscript study breakout rooms, and after that session I kinda just kept hearing these chords looping in my head during our small group conversations, and whenever the book of Ruth was being discussed.
A Bundle of Hope
Cristyn Bergen
@c_h0gue
A repeated theme for me throughout the conference has been the phrase “Your Story is Good” as sung by Candace on the mixtape. Out of all the characters in Ruth, God has seeped me into the story of Naomi. Her story was painful but it was good. “A Bundle of Hope” is the moment Naomi has a turning point in her situation. In Ruth 2, Ruth brings home a bundle of Barely. Naomi’s eyes light up and she asks, “Where did you glean today.” This bundle of barely was the start of hope in Naomi’s story.
Under His Wings
Joyce Wong
@wonderwoven
“Though my heart’s undone,
Let me stay Your daughter”
— from “Hesed, Amen” by Candace Coker
Like Naomi, even in our grief and loss, even when we feel empty, we who are God’s children are covered under His wings (Psalm 91:1,4) and lack no good thing (Psalm 34:8-10). He has a harvest in store for us, though we may not see it now (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).”
Story of Ruth
Derek Joyce
This was made before Ruth Con as a way to promote the conference for students. This is a playful take on the book of Ruth. Original lyrics by Austin Fedchuk and Derek Joyce.
The hesed of Grandpa T.
A.E. Thorimbert
@a.e.thorimbert
When I first began reading the story of Ruth, I kept getting held up on this idea of loving-kindness. I had all this all this childhood baggage around the word that made it difficult to see that kindness could ever be real or good. As I’ve excavated this practice of hesed over the past few months and past week, I have found myself overwhelmed with childhood memories of Sunday school and Thorimbert family traditions which are full of examples of loving-kindness that Ruth models for us.
Ruth: A Portrait of A Leader
Alan Thorimbert and Bryn Vargas
Throughout the spring semester BC students and staff have been considering how we can use our influence for the sake of blessing others and honouring God. When viewed from this lens we see the vast influence Ruth carries despite hardship in her vulnerable position as a widow, woman, and foreigner.
Ruth Con Poem
Ashley Brettell
@wonderwoven
My poem expresses fullness by learning about Ruth in her journey of life and emotions. Through Ruth, God has taught me to listen to the universe and myself. God has helped me to process my thoughts and emotions to what will happen in my life currently and in the future.
clinging to His promises
Vikki Moon
@vikki.moon
This picture (by my mother) reminds me to cling onto God and His promises like Ruth did and like my mother does. She shows me what a modern-day Ruth could look like and the beauty of clinging to His promises each new day. May you be reminded that God’s hesed/loyal love is still here with us now.
The hessed love I don’t deserve
Rebecca Tsow
@rebeccatsow
As I shut down my work and start getting ready for bed, I always see this little face peering into my room. My dog is one of the biggest embodiments of hessed love in my life — no matter what mood I’m in, how little attention I give him or how late it is, he’s always right there, accompanying me affectionately!
ḥesed
Sophia Lee
@sophiahelee
The book of Ruth showed me that I can show ḥesed to God as well as those around me by continuing to come back and reach out, even when I can’t perceive a response.
One Thing They Didn't See
Joshua Kim
@joshuakim9516
This is a poem based on the relationship between Boaz and Ruth. Just like Boaz who comes to Ruth the foreigner, God comes to those who are unloved and low in rank and embraces them with love.
Fields of Barley
Dave Nguyen-Stone
@daveyvonstone
What decisions do we make out of how our families set us up in life? This song imagines Boaz living generously with his inheritance, but left with a decision. Will he ultimately redeem an outsider? Could we imagine ordinary generosity leading to our own redemption?
Obed's Lullaby
Derek Joyce
Obed means “servant” or “servant of God”. This song is told from Boaz’ perspective, singing to his son of the hesed and generosity that mark his lineage. Boaz couldn’t have known, but his son would become the grandfather of King David and ancient ancestor to the Servant King, Jesus.
Lyrics:
Oh my son, you were born to a beautiful song
Of love calling out to hear grace sing along
Your mother the holy fire
Set our lives off with her blaze
Your were named by your people a servant through and through
Herald of security the sweetest and the first of fruit
You are the clearer of the ashes
The finest summer dress
Obed your heritage is quiet with the character of kings
Brought into an age of men shouting loudly for their own schemes
Oh my son the first shall be the last and the servant royalty
Oh the dust is catching up to me serve the Lord and live kindly
walking down a path
Jaeun (Jae) Yoo
I wanted to share on how God can erase pain. I also want to talk about how God never abandons people. I want to share contrast between walking with God and walking alone. God always invites people to walk with him. One step towards God is all it takes.
Empty and Full in the Kitchen
Dave Birrell
@davell70
The story of Ruth raises the questions around being empty and being full in both public and private spaces. The modern kitchen is both private and – at its best – a gateway to public gatherings. It holds stories of food security and equity, hospitality, and also can function as a curated gallery of our relationships.
