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His habitation
One of the benefits of really living with the words and melodies of Mary Baker Eddy’s hymns my whole life has been how these healing truths often appear spontaneously in my thought, right at the needed moment—reminding me of God’s love and care. One such occasion was years ago when my family and I were living in a small rental home. I deeply wanted our family to buy a house of our own, but it looked as if my husband and I had missed the boat for getting into the real estate market while home prices were affordable. Still, I daily pored over the ads of homes for sale, hoping to find one we could afford.
Then our financial situation changed. After prayerful consideration, my husband decided he wanted to go back to school and gave notice at his work. Shortly after this, a major political division arose at my job that threatened to shut down the business. With these changes hanging over us, threatening our sources of income, it really looked as if my dream of buying a house was hopeless.
A few weeks later, I was sitting at home, feeling quite down. My thoughts went something like this: “OK, God, if we’re not going to have a house of our own, then can this yearning be removed so I can get on with my life and have some peace of mind?” Then suddenly, a line from Mrs. Eddy’s hymn, “Mother’s Evening Prayer,” came to my thinking. The line was, “His habitation high is here, and nigh” (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 207). These unexpected words really got my attention. As I contemplated them, a sense of peace came over me. I found the hymn was revealing to me ideas about home I had not been willing to consider before. I was beginning to realize that the home I was really looking for was not made of concrete, wood, and shingles—it was spiritual. I didn’t have to buy a house or move somewhere else to find it. I saw that my true sense of home had always been provided by God and this “habitation high” comes with endless expressions of beauty, warmth, and safety.
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About the author
Gina McMurchy-Barber lives in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
