SoCal Marisa: The Shack

by Wm. Paul Young.

I just finished reading The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. A friend of mine lent it to me quite a quite while back and it has taken me some time to get to reading it. OK, a lot of time. Apparently I took it with me on some weekend trip because I found it recently in my weekender bag. I'm guessing I didn't have that much time to read it.

Normally, I can blow through a book in no time. This one took me about a week to finish even though it was only 248 pages in length and the letters were averaged sized. Mack is our main character and he is struggling with his faith and forgiveness after the brutal murder of his young daughter Missy. Yeah, I know, not your light text. So naturally this is going to take me some time to finish because it is so emotional a read.

Just as expected The Shack brought me to the place of misery for Mack beginning with his daughter Missy's abduction. He suffers great depression and his family life suffers as well. Four years later Mack receives a letter from God inviting him to The Shack; the place where they believe Missy was taken to but never found.

Mack reluctantly returns to The Shack for his weekend with God. Half expecting him not to be there. What transpires changes everything. We are shown God as separate but equal individuals in the Trinity; God, Son, Spirit. We are reminded of Love, Faith, and Forgiveness. The method of which Mr. Young uses to describe our God to us is very potent. I am not ashamed to admit I cried. Not your simple single tear cry. The kinda cry where the tears flowed. All of us need to be reminded of the simple act of Love and The Shack does just that.

The Shack does not preach to us Bible verse after verse. Yet, it does remind us of the unending and perfect love just waiting for us. It reminds us God is a God of Free Will, He does not want to control us. However, He will work to fix the damage caused by evil. All we have to do is be open to His healing love.

Without blowing the story line for you there is a discussion on our eternity. This part was especially comforting to me. Recently my Granpa passed away and was delivered from his severe body pain. I could not help but think of him in the second waterfall scene and a little later in the meadow scene. To be reminded once again, was very good for me. Good for my heart.

While this is not an easy book to read. You may cry. I did! I definitely do recommend it. 5 stars!

Until Next Time, SoCal Marisa