Synopsis "Dare to Dream: A Search for Conditions of Hope from the Book of Ruth"
The book looks into the lives of the Bible characters Ruth, Naomi (her mother-in-law), and Boaz (Ruth's future husband), as they overcome challenging situations and struggle not to allow their hidden hopes and dreams to die without trying to achieve them. The characters purposefully searched for conditions of hope in things they saw, heard about, or perceived to have potential of being beneficial and by accepting wise advice and kindness from other people. The book is encouraging for anyone struggling with situations in life that leave them feeling discouraged and forces them to search for conditions of hope and ways to make their hopes and dreams come true by becoming proactive and working on a plan of action. Their story is also about relationships, in the natural and spiritual sense, as demonstrated by the connection between them and a kinsman-redeemer who serves to make another person's life restored and complete. As one reads through the book, he or she gains a sense that more than simply human effort was at work, but it was the hand of God orchestrating every detailed move, and as a result, each character realized and accredited it all to God as being their kinsman-redeemer. Although Boaz assisted in helping Ruth's family overcome challenges, it was leading them to find a relationship with the true kinsman-redeemer, Jesus the Messiah. So the questions for the reader are: What is preventing you to Dare to Dream? Why not search for conditions of hope in your situation and make every attempt to fulfill them, because without trying, your hopes and dreams will die? Everyone has hopes and dreams that they hold in their minds and keep silently to themselves. Therefore, when people apply themselves, it becomes possible to move forward to experience at least four types of dreams, such as addressed in the chapters: "Shattered Dreams," "Working the Dream," "Rebirth of a Dream," and "Fulfilled Dreams."
