The Shack by William Young

I’m probably one of the last to jump on The Shack’s bandwagon because I don’t usually read or like fiction. But I loved it, and am still pondering some of its profound illustrations and points. I recommend it to all who haven’t read it yet, and am including some short excerpts to encourage you to get a copy. For those who have read it, I’d love to hear about your favorite parts.

Excerpts I loved:
P 102 “The God who is—the I am who I am—cannot act apart from love!”
p. 120 “It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it (sin).”
p. 122 “We don’t need power over the other because we are always looking out for the best.”
p. 123 “We (God) carefully respect your choices, so we work within your systems even while we seek to free you from them”.
p. 125 “But your choices are also not stronger than my (God) purposes, and I will use every choice you make for the ultimate good and the most loving outcome.”
p. 126 “The real underlying flaw in your life, Mackenzie, is that you don’t think that I am good….everything is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don’t”.
p. 132 “But if I (God) direct you to touch (a poisonous plant), that is different. For any created being, autonomy is lunacy. Freedom involves trust and obedience inside a relationship of love. So, if you are not hearing my voice, it would be wise to take the time to understand the nature of the plant.”
p. 137 “Rights are where survivors go, so that they won’t have to work out relationships.”
p. 137 “He (Jesus) gave up everything, so that by his dependent life he opened a door that would allow you to live free enough to give up your rights.”
p. 142 “do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me (God) there with you?”
p. 145 “To force my will on you,” Jesus replied, “is exactly what love does not do. Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy….Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.”
p. 159 “Tell me,” she inquired, “if I may ask, by what criteria do you base your judgments?...Judging requires that you think yourself superior over the one you judge.”
p. 181 “You are free to love without an agenda.”
p. 190 “Just because you make horrendous and destructive choices does not mean you deserve less respect for what you inherently are—the pinnacle of my Creation and the center of my affection.”
p. 198 “My ability to communicate is limitless, living and transforming, and it will always be tuned to Papa’s (God the Father) goodness and love.”
p. 206 “To the degree that you resort to expectations and responsibilities, to that degree you neither know me nor trust me.”
p. 248 Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning