Although my father is an avid reader, he doesn't really read novels, actually, let me rephrase that. My dad DOES NOT read novels. So when he recommended one to me, my interest was immediately piqued.
The basic summary is as follows (I'm going to try and not give anything away, the back of the book basically tells you as much, but this is a book review.)
A good Christian man, with a seemingly content life, takes his youngest children on a camping trip. During the trip his 6 year old daughter is kidnapped. Although they don't find her remains, evidence that she has been brutally assaulted is found at a remote shack and the lead character Mack is called in to identify his daughter's ripped and bloody red dress, lying next to the fire place. This starts one Man's journey to the pits of despair. He refers to this period as The Great Sadness. As he wrestles with his own personal guilt and shame, alienating those around him, he receives a note inviting him back to the same shack for a one on one time with God.
It's in that Shack and his experience with a God that is totally unlike anything he imagined, he is restored and healed.
From the first page of the Forward (which is actually part of the novel, so make sure to read it), I was immersed. I love that feeling, when the world around you begins to fade away, and the words you are reading begin to take on an almost theatrical production in your mind's eye…
I found myself crying and imagining myself in Mack's shoes. What would happen if after 6 amazing years with my daughter Lyric, she was taken away so violently? What was she going through when that man took her... Would she be crying out for me or her daddy to help her. Did she suffer long… I know it might be morbid, but I felt so involved with this book in just the first few pages that I felt it was some life experience that I personally went through. I found myself grieving with him and felt I could relate. Not in the death of my physical child, but there have been many deaths I have experienced, especially lately. They aren't physical deaths of a loved one, but they were emotional and life altering nonetheless.
When God makes his/her/their entrance, I was taken back at first… this wasn't the way I thought God should be portrayed… but then a little farther into it, I realized, that's the point.
God is so much more, is so much more intricate, with more depth and understanding than I could ever grasp… any stereotype I have of God can't possibly be accurate. Anything that I know of Him, can't be the full truth.
Because it really is all a love story isn't it? A story of his unending, beyond logic love for me, whom he is exceptionally fond of… just like it is a story of his unending, beyond logic love for you, whom he is exceptionally fond of.
Bad, horrible things happen in this world, but that was never His intent. He never ordains people to die, or tragedy to happen. All of it is a result of our independence from Him. Could He personally intervene? Absolutely! But does He all the time? No. This obviously leads us to question and become, in our own sense, a judge and jury of God's actions. Does he ordain tragedy? No, but he uses it for our good all the time, day in and day out. Though this isn't in the book, I feel like it applies. I once heard a man say that God's will is exactly what we would do if we knew everything past, present and future. Sometimes we can't see the hand of God, but he is always there.
For anyone who's suffered loss. For anyone who's questioned why things happen... this book gives you a lot of comfort.
I've heard a lot of people who say they don't agree with all the theology in the book. I personally find it pretty sound, taking into account that this is a fictional version of what one man views the way the Lord would interact with you. Yes, if you are an atheist, you won't agree with this book. Yes, if you are a Christian who feel that they've got it all figured out, then you won't agree with everything in this book. But the whole point is to knock off what your preconceived notions of God, the Holy Spirit and the Son are, and make you do a double take on your personal expectations towards God, your grudges towards Him, and what you feel He didn't do for you.
There are so many different themes and areas that were covered that I'm not even going to get into it. However, when talking to people, everyone seems to have a different theme they walked away with, which is where I think the beauty of this book truly lies. I learned about forgiveness, others may have learned about the Father's love (which is so amazing!), others about dealing with hurt.
Okay, I can keep going and when I get home, I'll post a few of my favorite quotes, but I don't have the book in front of me right now to do so.
If you want to read this book, I would encourage you to order it directly from the author's website, www.theshackbook.com as he gets the most of the proceeds this way. Also, there is a forum where you can post thoughts and questions.
To wrap it up, I wholeheartedly recommend this book and encourage you all to go to www.theshackbook.com and order a copy (or two) and sit back, and be open to allow a change in your worldview.
I felt I took the journey with Mack on this one. Hurts, betrayals and personal tragedies in my life were highlighted, ministered to, loved on and then released while I read this book.
Enjoy!
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