The last line of the back cover blurb reads, “You’ll want everyone you know to read this book!” That’s exactly how I felt after I finished reading The Shack, a captivating novel by Wm. Paul Young. Actually, while it is referred to as a novel, it is really a true story ghostwritten by Young on the disturbing experiences of the main character, Mack. Young, a close friend of Mack, shows up occasionally in the story as Willie.
Mack has had the horrifying experience of having his daughter abducted while away on a camping trip with him. Mack's guilt compounds his grief and he has all but given up on God, until he gets an invitation to meet Him at the shack.
It may be true to say that most people, skeptic as well as believer, have questions about God. Is He real? Why does He allow bad things to happen to good people? Is there really life after death? What is heaven like? What is the relationship between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? What is the relationship between The Trinity and the believer? Should a Christian become angry with God? All these and more are answered for us in 272 pages of provocative, allegorical fiction. The type that will make you laugh, cry and long for your own “shack” where you can interact with God on a personal level.
The title and the picture of a dilapidated little shack on the book’s front cover conjure up ideas of dejection, neglect, poverty, despair even. But take a closer look at the surrounding heavy snow and you begin to imagine coziness, leisure, intimacy. As you read the book all of these situations unfold before you until all you want to do is burrow yourself deeper into your cushion and pray that the snow never melts.
The Shack has been compared to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim Progress, a sterling comparison indeed. The Missy Project is designed by a team of people who have been touched by the book and want to see it read by as many as people as possible. It is my pleasure to join with them in sharing this compelling work with you so that you too may have your own “shack” experience. Once you have digested this great work, please pass it on to others and ask them to do the same. You will be greatly blessed.
