I read this book after a real world tragic event befell a close friend of mine. He ran to the pages of this book for solace and asked those around him whom he loved to also read this book in order to find some piece in their own hearts. It worked.
In the book, a father grieves the loss of his daughter, ripped from his love tragically and far too early in life. My friend also grieved the loss of his daughter. In the book the father is called back to the place where is daughter took her last breath, “The Shack”. So too, my friend was called back to such a place. In this case a railway bridge spanning a scenic woodland creek. With great strength that overcame his great fear, a strength emanating from an unknown force, the father in the book returns to find a communion with God. With great strength my friend conquered all his fear in order to ask a group of friends to return with him to the location where his daughter drew her last breath finding strength of purpose from the pages of this book. In the book the father was taught by God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit about the power of relationships and the power of Love that drives these relationships. The real Dad, standing on the railway bridge, spoke to his gathered friends, some forty of us, about the last weeks of his daughter's life, of the demons that took her life, and of the quiet place she now lives her life anew. In the book “The Shack” is transformed from a place of great tragedy, to a shining piece of heaven. In real life, the railway bridge was transformed from a place of great tragedy, to a place of quiet serenity and peace, a place all of us could now return to for reflection and communion with our thoughts and prayers.
A work of fiction cannot carry the power of such transformation unless it is touched by another power, a higher power. Believers will believe. Non-believers will non-believe. Critics will cast aspersions and negativity about the dangers of the inaccuracies they found between the pages of “The Shack”. These criticisms stemming from what they believe are inaccurate representations of Truth as it’s found in the Bible. To those critics I can only say one thing. The title of this work of fiction is, “The Shack”. It does not say, “The Bible”, on it’s cover.
For the record I would like to note that there are plenty of inspirational texts out there that seek to convey spiritual truth through fictional account. Many are held to a significantly higher standard if they attempt to convey something that is Biblically based with anything other than an orthodox view. Another book that has offered solace to those grieving that has sold millions of copies (~4 million) is called “When Bad Things Happen to Bad People”. There can be no doubt that this book offers communion with God, although it does so in a way that ultimately portrays God, as somewhat less than God, at least not an all powerful God. “The Shack”, gives that power back to God and still answers the same questions Rabbi Kushner had set out to explain in his book. Wm. Paul Young prevails both in story and in sales, over 8 million as of today.
To me, this book is helpful, it’s sincere, and the inaccuracies one might have trouble dealing with do not erase from its power. A power, as I’ve explained, I have witness first hand. I give this book Five stars for anyone who want’s to grieve less over any loss. It has my highest recommendation...buy this book and give it to a grieving loved one. But for the purposes of this review as a piece of fiction, I’ll give it four stars for the average fiction reader but will deduct one star for the Chapter entitled, “Here Come da Judge”. Read it...skip this chapter...or explain to me this chapter...3-Stars over all...it was a privilege for me to have read it.
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