Review: On Our Way Home

On Our Way Home book cover on blue background

What an immense privilege to be able to read On Our Way Home by Colleen Chao, who is on, so-to-speak, borrowed time and continuing to gift us with her words. It's a blessing to be graced with her perspective as she faces death and to see how she points to the work of Jesus in her life. Answering and joining in on questions about death, this book is one that is meant to be returned to time and again.

Many thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

Marvel at the true home Jesus has prepared for you and me.

Deep in our souls is a longing for a home―a place of beauty and goodness. A place where we―and the ones we love―are not touched by grief and sorrow. We long to live without the threat of disease or violence, a place where there is no shadow over our joy. But this isn’t that place. The home we long for is . . . heaven.

For the past three-and-a-half years, Colleen Chao has been living with a terminal diagnosis. In this precious time, she’s been pondering questions like:

What is heaven like?
What happens to me the moment I die?
Will I be able to see my loved ones from heaven?
Where have I been mistaken in my ideas about heaven?
How can I practically experience the hope of heaven in the face of death?

Including soul-sustaining comfort from the Scriptures and the testimonies of faithful saints, Colleen shows how our deepest desires―for beauty, wonder, peace, healing, happiness, power, worship, and belonging―are permanently (and increasingly!) fulfilled when we get Home. On Our Way Home draws deeply from God’s Word, infusing our hearts with hope, even in our darkest days. Come, and experience the comfort of our promised eternal Home.

Whether you’re facing a terminal diagnosis, or your loved one is―or suffering of another kind is causing you to desperately need the hope of heaven―I pray you will sense the God of all hope with you, holding your right hand, comforting you with his counsel, and preparing you for an eternity of glory.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

I am incredibly grateful for this book that has me reflecting on my mortality in more profound ways after reading it. As a result, I have so many emotions stemming from the topics covered, from joyous anticipation to regret and remorse to utter awe at God's mercy and love. With each chapter ending with excerpts from other pieces of Christian literature, the book almost reads like poetry, where readers can enjoy the thoughts of many believers throughout time. Despite death being a difficult and often neglected discussion, this book serves to be a breath of fresh air in drawing parallels between the art of living and dying.

Additionally, by evoking various images of death from the Bible, ranging from a veil to a valley to seeds, Colleen Chao offers readers the opportunity to better understand the different facets of what death means for Christians. I continue to be struck by her hope for heaven while acknowledging the pain of this world as she battles terminal cancer, and I am most appreciative that she provides this personal perspective to the text. If you are looking for a relatable yet inspirational book about the veil of death, On Our Way Home is a sparkling reminder of all that awaits us as believers longing to meet Jesus face to face.