The Shack

Do you ask the hard spiritual questions? Get mad at God? Or as my mother used to say, "sass" Him? I do. In fact, I will admit that I am one of God's bratty kids. But I just finished a book and I think it changed me.

The Shack. It seems people either love it or hate it. I am one of those who loved it. Not to judge, but I'm getting the impression that people who see life in black & white, or people for whom the letter of the law became the law of the word, don't get The Shack. People who think in imagery, or understand concepts thru metaphors, will probably enjoy this book. I loved the depiction of the Holy Spirit. I was "especially fond of that one." *smile* Papa says that alot in the book.

That line really sealed the deal for me because a couple years ago, I was rather frustrated with my son. We were taking a summer ride with the convertible top down, trying to talk things out. In a period of silence, I heard in my spirit ... I am not making this up... the Lord said with a chuckle, "I LOVE the way I made him!!!"

I'm so glad He's especially fond of my son. And me, even though I'm a brat. He's especially fond of you, too!

Some other lines from the book:

"Humans are not defined by their limitations but by the intentions I have for them; not by what they seemed to be, but by everything it means to be created in my image."

"Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."

"The choice to eat of that tree tore the universe apart, divorcing the spiritual from the physical. They died, expelling in the breath of their choice the very breath of God. That was a great sorrow day."

"Evil is a word we use to describe the absence of Good, just as we use the word darkness to describe the absence of Light or death to describe the absence of Life. Both evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good; they do not have any actual existence. I am Love and there is no darkness in me. Light and Good actually exist. So, removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness. Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself. That is death because you have separated yourself from me: Life."

"When I dwell in you, I do so in the present; I live in the present. Not the past, although much can be remembered and learned by looking back, but only for a visit, not an extended stay. (Mack questions why he always imagines the worst for the future) It is your desperate attempt to get some control over something you can't. It is impossible ... because it isn't even real, nor will it ever be real. You try & play God, imagining the evil that you fear becoming a reality, and then you try and make plans...to avoid what you fear "

"Emotions are the color of the soul; they are spectacular and incredible." (There's a whole gorgeous scene describing how color is the representation of our emotions, our love, our relationship to each other and to God.)

Although the book is probably not for everybody, I thought it was lovely. I will not be the same for having read it. For more information, click here: http://theshackbook.com/index.html

(these 'shack' photos were shot in the Smoky Mtns, TN)

PS: if you're one of those hard-core theology types who don't like the book, this article might give you something to think about: http://www.windrumors.com/43/the-beauty-of-ambiguity-mystery/