Taking Leave of Your Home

We are pilgrims on a journey; that means we will leave our home and move to another one at least once during our lifetime. This book is a resource for taking leave of a home, focusing primarily on the psychological and spiritual tasks of moving. Chapter 1 offers suggestions on how to take leave of one's home slowly. Chapter 2 presents occasions when one must quickly take leave of a home because of poor health, a health emergency, age, the death of a spouse, finances, a job transfer, etc. Because nature can precipitate a move, chapter 3 offers suggestions for taking leave of a home when one has been faced with such a disaster as a tornado, a flood, an earthquake, a fire, etc. Chapter 4 presents a short prayer service to be held on moving day. For every one of the entries a few verses of a Scripture text that is appropriate for the topic under consideration are given. A reflection follows. The reflection is followed by an activity, which involves the members of a family in some way. A prayer concludes the exercise. ""Focusing on the psychological and spiritual tasks of taking leave of one's home, Boyer's latest book once again fills a niche of prayer and reflection. He provides prayers and rituals that will help individuals, families, and communities bring closure to traumatic and difficult moments we all face. I highly recommend this book and will make good use of it myself."" --Vernon Meyer, Pastor, Sun Lakes United Church of Christ ""In Taking Leave of Your Home, Mr. Boyer explores people's personal relationships with their living spaces and reasons why new residencies must need occur. He adds wonderful touches of personality through Bible verse selections and guided reflections, activities, and prayers. These assist the reader in gaining control over the process of leaving the home and making a move with comfort, strength, and confidence. This book is perfect for anyone leaving their home."" --Jeremy C. Graddy, Republic, MO ""Taking Leave of Your Home is a valuable resource that assists the reader in the process of working through grief and loss associated with taking leave of a home expectedly or unexpectedly. Boyer uses scripture, prayer, reflection, and meaningful activities to facilitate closure, acceptance, and peace as one takes leave and transitions to a new home."" --Matthew Ver Miller, Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified Coach, Rocky Mountain Professional Counseling Mark G. Boyer--well-known author, and college instructor--has been writing books on biblical and liturgical spirituality for thirty years. As an author, he has written fifty volumes on spirituality focused on recognizing the divine in every-day life. As a college instructor, he has taught courses in Bible and film at Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, for almost thirty years. This is his ninth Wipf and Stock title.