Copyright: 2007
Publisher: Windblown Media
ISBN: 9780964729230
Those who know me well are aware that I lost my sister to cancer a few years ago. While this loss isn't the same as the loss of the fictional character Mack in The Shack, I strongly related to The Great Sadness he struggles with in the story. In addition, the spiritual journey that he traveled during his sojourn at the shack closely mirrors many of the thoughts and revalations I have experienced in the past two years. For me, reading William Paul Young's novel was a very personal experience.
Synopsis
The basic plot of the story is a father (Mack) whose daughter is kidnapped and brutally murdered in a shack in the wilderness. He and his family suffer tremendously and his heart is heavy. In an odd twist a note shows up in his mailbox telling him that he should come to the shack. The note is signed "Papa" which is Mack's wife's nickname for God.
Mack ends up visiting the scene of the crime, the abandoned shack in which his daughter was murdered. While there he has a fascinating experience with God. God shows himself as a black woman, the Holy Spirit appears as almost a fairy like woman and Jesus shows up as Himself, a Jewish carpenter.
The dialogue takes over the greater part of the book intermingled with incredibly well written scenery and a subtle plot. The main point of the book is to show Mack that he really didn't know that much about God even though at a younger age he had studied theology formally.
The theological discussions that take place are outside the realm of any organized religion and will likely grate against the conscious of even the most moderately religious person. The dialogue deals with topics that have plagued philosophers and theologians alike for centures: the problem of evil, the need for atonement and sacrifice, the problem of an angry God, freedom vs. license with regard to works.
Many of these are issues that I have had to come to grips with in the years since my sister passed and I related very closely to Mack in this story. I too studied theology at a younger age and I too suffered a loss that I couldn't understand and frankly for which I grew angry at God. I too had to come face to face with the realization that I didn't know God... that God couldn't fit into the neat confines of any organized religion.
Thoughts
These quotes jumped off the pages at me but there were many more that I didn't write down.
"Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship." ~ Papa (God)
"Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved." ~ Sarayu (Holy Spirit)
"It is impossible for you to take power over the future because it isn't even real, nor will it ever be real." ~ Jesus
"...my love is a lot bigger than your stupidity." ~ Papa
Conclusion
I wish I could recommend this book to everyone but I fear that many would just bristle at how the contents don't square with their view of God. Many will likely see the book as too fanciful to be of any use. For me this book was the perfect story at the perfect time in my life.