The SHACK

I just got finished reading one of the most incredible books I have ever read, and there is a force beyond my control that is typing these words right now. Heck, I don’t even know what I am going to say, but I can assure you it will have deep meaning for me. I hope it will for you. The book is entitled The Shack, by WM. Paul Young, and it was recommended to me by 2 of my closest friends. Their recommendations were served up within days of each other, and their individual places in my life are separated by many years. The first is an old and dear friend of mine from my college days. This person has been such a valuable and supportive friend to me over the years, and our relationship continues to grow. We met while I was a freshman in college and he was a senior. For some reason (sports, beer, music, girls, etc...), we took a liking to each other and I was introduced to all of his friends, who were also seniors. Typically, in college, seniors do not hang out with freshman (it’s just not cool), but I never really did follow any conventional rules. Anyway, I was in the group, and my first year at college was by far my most enjoyable, thanks to this group of friends. Most of whom I am still acquainted with, but this one person and I are still very close after 25 years or so. The other recommendation came from one my newest friends. She and I have started an excellent relationship, and she has made a tremendous impact on my life. She has been there for me throughout the absolute most difficult time of my life, when I needed someone the most, and I am so grateful for her. She and I share so much in common with regard to personal growth, spirituality, and many other facets of life. As a matter of fact, she is a professional Life Coach. Actually, that is how we met. She is so awesome that I feel compelled…..right now.....to give her a little “plug” for her business. Her website is www.inventyourlife.com. Check it out, you will not regret it.

So, there it is, two very special people (they know who they are) offering up a recommendation for a book….how could I go wrong? Well, this book has touched me in ways I could not have imagined. A life changer….for sure. The timing of this read was perfect for me, as so much of the deep rooted meaning within these pages reflects upon many facets of life that I have been contemplating over the last few years. Mostly about God, spirituality, and the multitude of “unanswered” questions associated with this topic. In addition, I totally identified with the main character of this book. We have so much in common, it was like the book was written for me….a feeling that I am quite sure many others get when they ingest this book. Although they never quite gave his age, it seemed to me that he was in his mid-forties. He had five children, the youngest being a girl. He had some tragic things happen to him over the course of his life, and he could not bear to live with his pain. The similarities haunted me throughout the book, but the connection was powerful. Did you ever hear the expression, “This book was so good, I couldn't put it down”? Well, I read this book in one day. Sure, I have done that before, but not with such passion and conviction. I was literally lost in this guy’s world for the entire time. I laughed, I cried (a bunch), and I re-read so many of the educational pieces about God and our relationship with him. It was a fascinating experience, one that I will not soon forget. I am actually considering reading it again, very soon, this time with my yellow marker. I always say I am going to start reading with a yellow marker, but I never seem to execute. Something I am determined to change…..maybe with this book. It’s funny, when I mentioned how much I like the book to my Life Coach pal; she told me she was reading it for the third time. It’s really that impactful folks.

This book is fiction, which excited me from the beginning. I really have to force myself to read fiction, as I historically have more of an affinity for non-fiction. I’m looking right now at the back cover, and this quote sums it up:

“This story reads like a prayer – like the best kind of prayer, filled with sweat and wonder and transparency and surprise. If you read one fiction this year, let this be it” – Mike Morrell

I’ll try not to give too much away, but the basic plot centers on a tragedy involving the main character’s (Mack) youngest daughter. This alone threw me over the edge on a few different occasions. Both the tragedy and joy that surrounds this sweet little girl flung me into a waterfall of tears that were…at times….uncontrollable. My youngest child is also a little girl, so anyone who has children (especially a young daughter)….I am warning you now....get the tissues. The unspeakable horror of these events starts a long and painful journey for the main character, who ends up face to face with God himself. Or in this case, God herself….but that’s all I am saying on that topic :). He receives an anonymous note, from what he believe is God who wants to meet him in the exact location of the tragedy with his baby girl. He decides to take the journey, and he becomes witness to a wonder of events and experiences that will change his life forever. He gets to interact with God, ask questions, face his demons and his past, and ultimately his darkest nightmare. What is so fantastic about this book is that the questions he asks are so familiar with the questions we all have: What is heaven like, and how can I get there? Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? Couldn't God have avoided what happened to his daughter…..what happens to us? What about religion, which one is right? How do I know that God is with me? Mack gets his answers relayed back to him with deep meaning and conviction. The dialog between Mack, God (as well as Jesus and the Holy Spirit) is captivating. The examples they use to explain the content are easily understood and transferable to our own lives and experiences. Again, I felt like someone was actually explaining all of these things to me for the first time. No pressure, no rules and regulations, just flat out make sense answers to these questions that we ALL have. I was actually getting some of MY own questions answered. What we realize by diving into these pages is that God is always there, and that the circumstances of life are driven by our human desire to be independent. Yes, God knows what is going to happen, but that doesn’t mean he will stop it from happening. God made us to love, to be humble, to be peaceful, and to live in his image. The image he clearly set for us when he sent his son, Jesus, to earth to set the example. However, he also gave us free will to make our own decisions, and many of us have taken advantage of this free will and to let the other dude (the one who resides a bit further south) have his way with us. Certainly, that is what happened to me. What I now realize is that God has always been there for me. I realize that he is actually teaching me a great lesson throughout my recent struggles, and I have the opportunity for spiritual growth, forgiveness, and redemption. A lesson I am thankful for, and this book really brought it home for me.

Regardless of your religious or spiritual views, you will LOVE this book. The statement underneath the title says: “Where tragedy meets eternity”. One of the things I have learned by reading this book is that we can be in this world but don’t have to be of this world. There is something greater waiting for us; all we have to do is believe. I will conclude with a quote on spirituality that I made up for another project I am working on. This quote encompasses my belief and I am very thankful that it was somewhat validated by this fabulous piece of literature that I just read:

“From the beginning of time there has been a predestined purpose for every single human being who has entered this world. Our first challenge is to have faith and to believe that this is true. Our second challenge is to find the right path that connects us to that purpose, and to be steadfast and strong while we stay on that path. And our third and final challenge is to never forget the first two”
Tony Caico