"The Shack"

Well, right off the bat, let me just go ahead and confess that I typically HATE Christian fiction. Here's where I will lose half of my readership (so, that makes maybe three of you left): I've read Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury and probably others I can't even think of, and to me, it's honestly just not as well-written as the regular (gasp!) non-Christian authors that I typically love to read. Which makes me a Christian Book Snob. And I'm OK with that.

I had heard about the novel "The Shack" for however long it's been out and controversial, but I never really felt compelled to give it a whirl - despite plenty of friend recommendations. Call me prejudiced. Well, the other day when I went to the library, I couldn't find any new ones by my regular authors at that particular branch (although I love LOVE that you can reserve online - I do it for the kids and me ALL the time), but I did see "The Shack." Seeing as how I'm kind of between books right now (umm, NOT true at all - I'm also reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan - halfway through that one...I am notorious for reading several things at a time), I thought I would give it a whirl.

Only, as it turns out, it's me that's been given a whirl. And while I can barely put it down, I also want to read it super slowly so I can digest and dissect the conversations between the main character and God and compare the thoughts found there with what I know from Bible teaching and scripture. Y'all, if I read that sentence on someone else's blog three weeks ago, I possibly might be rolling my eyes and sticking my finger in my mouth. This book is really different from anything I have ever read before. And while it's definitely fiction and there are elements to it that I am not sure I am in sync with theologically, it's also made me re-examine my relationship with God and my perception of who He is.

For example, on page 97, God is talking with Mackenzie about why He is not like him: "...The problem is that many folks try to grasp some sense of who I am by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to the nth degree, factoring in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn't much, and then call that God. And while it may seeem like a noble effort, the truth is that it falls pitifully short of who I really am. I'm not merely the best version of you that you can think of. I am far more than that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think."

And you know - that is spot on! I totally do that. I know God is holy and just and merciful and omniscient, etc., but don't I really live as if He is really just a super good version of me?? Maybe I'm the only one that does that!

And for the person who realizes the fears he has in his life and wonders why they are there (Mackenzie is having a conversation with Jesus right before they both go walking on the water across the lake on page 142), "[It's] because you don't believe. You don't know that we [the trinity] love you. The person who lives by their fears will not find freedom in my love. I am not talking about rational fears regarding legitimate dangers, but imagined fears, and especially the projection of those into the future. To the degree that those fears have a place in your life, you neither believe I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it; you talk about it, but you don't know it."

See what I'm saying? It's deep, but in a captivating, thought-provoking way. I have dog-eared several passages in the book (shhh! don't tell the librarian!) so that I could go back and re-read and think about them. And there's lots more I could share with you here tonight. But enough already. Go get it yourself, read it, and let me know what you think. As for me, I'm going to go finish it up right now!