Title: From Homeless to Heaven
Author: Jeanne Ann Off
Publisher: Book-Art Press Solutions LLC
ASIN: B08465YTY3
Pages: 134
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed By: Dan MacIntosh
Pacific Book Review
Author Jeanne Ann Off’s From Homeless to Heaven is, in its very title as well as its narrative, a kind of rags to riches story. It centers around a formerly homeless man, Alan Washburn, who chooses to work on a Colorado ranch, instead of living in a homeless shelter. However, the “riches” Washburn experiences are far more of the spiritual variety than monetary kind. Although he arrived with little physical baggage when he went to live with and work for Cody Chambers, he still carried much emotional baggage.
Washburn liked almost everything about the job and the outdoors environment at Chambers’ cattle ranch. He was a natural when it came to performing physical labor, and what he didn’t already know how to do, he learned to do quickly. Washburn and Chambers made a fine team and developed a symbiotic working relationship. Even so, Washburn brought some heavy unseen baggage with him to his new role. You see, the Chambers family (of a husband, wife and small son), were loyal churchgoing Christians. At first, Washburn resisted Cody Chambers’ church invitations. Washburn had had some bad experiences with church in the past and simply didn’t have room for any religion in his life.
The book’s author, Jeanne Ann Off, has a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and a Bible College degree from Faith Bible Institute. This science education shows through on some of the book’s more technical sections, while her Bible studies come into play whenever the Bible or theology are discussed in the book.
As a family of faith, the Chambers do it right when it comes to ‘being a witness’ to their employee/guest. Although Cody is quick to provide an answer whenever Washburn asks God-related questions, he’s not the type of man to ever push his faith on another. Instead of constantly thumping Washburn with his Bible, so to speak, Cody and his family show their faith in the way they live their lives, instead. Washburn and the Chambers face many hardships – both natural and human-made – throughout the story. In all these situations, though, the Chambers exemplify doing the right thing, which is not always the easy thing.
One of Washburn’s biggest trials is his continuing encounters with his ex-wife, who has become a thorn in his side. He discovers that he impregnated his wife before they separated, which leads him to request and receive full custody of his young son. He also eventually comes to Christian faith. Furthermore, he falls in love with a recently widowed neighbor named Aimi, and they are married before book’s end.
A big part of Off’s story is watching Washburn evolve from an angry, formerly homeless and recently divorced man, into a more spiritually centered family man. It is encouraging to watch Washburn’s life change – for the better. The message of the Gospel is that Christ died for all, and that nobody – no matter what bad things they’ve done in life – is ever completely out of God’s reach. Off tells this story by including appropriate scripture references whenever these are appropriate. This book is Christian-focused, without ever becoming overly preachy.
From a Christian worldview, even folks living in the nicest homes are essentially still homeless. Yes, Alan Washburn was physically homeless, but he wasn’t all the way home until he found his heavenly home with his Christian brothers and sisters. It’s also worth noting that Washburn wasn’t promised some ‘pie in the sky’ salvation by the Chambers family. They helped him find joy and peace right here on Earth, long before his earthly life ended.
All things may not always be good, but with a little faith, they do eventually work together for the good. This is the message of Jeanne Ann Off’s encouraging story.
