Currently Reading...

The Shack. I'm almost done, only a couple chapters left.

I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding this book. Church leaders slamming it for it's off-beat theology, others claiming it to be life-changing and a book that brought God into a new light.

However to interpret this book is up to the reader themselves. You may be one who knows about the controversies and puts up a great defensive barrier before even picking up the book. Or you may be one who approaches the book as purely fiction, a good read...and nothing more.

I chose to pick up the book with an open mind. I deliberately chose to not read any reviews or listen to any one's conversations regarding the book so that I wouldn't be influenced either way. And I'm so glad I did.

Even though I'm not completely finished with the book I have a pretty good grasp of the concept and direction the writer is going. But I kept reminding myself...this is fiction.

If you haven't read the book and you wish to, you might not want to read the rest of my post...I wouldn't want to spoil too much or even be one of those people whose insights enable other's thoughts on the matter.

Throughout reading the book, as I said before, I intentionally kept my mind open to all possibilities. Sure, the author might have some interesting takes on God, Jesus, The Spirit and many other things but I didn't want to discredit him and shut it all down before I actually gave it a little more time and thought. I'm not saying I agree with him totally..by any means. But there are some very valid points and some truth in his writing which were encouraging to me as I read them. Those feelings that he portrays the main character, Mack, having are feelings that I have felt before. Those questions that Mack so genuinely asks are questions I think most people have cried out wondering what the answers were.

It took me a bit of time to get passed Mack's first meeting at the shack. I'm sure many people were stumped by his encounter. At first I laughed. Of course the author feels he needs to be politically correct. Woman, black, Asian, middle eastern...and later on Hispanic, all rolled into one to create the Trinity and other attributes of God.

But then I thought. Why not? I kinda like the spin the author took on it. It took me awhile to get passed it but I thought, I'm glad he didn't limit the image of God. Putting the image of God into writing and into an actually picture is impossible anyway. So I'd like to think the author did the best he could, to make God a tangible image to a very hurt and lost man (Mack). I'm sure some people would totally argue with me on that because it is a little out there...but that's what happens when I keep an open mind. I don't like putting God in a box and limiting Him on how He can show Himself to others.

There's so much more to the book that I could write about and maybe after I finish it I'll post again. But for now I'll just end with:

This book is a good read. It is fiction. People can take from it what they wish. If they feel moved by what he says, great. If they are angered at what he says, that's fine too.

I've heard that many church pastors and other leaders have requested their congregations to read this book. For what reason, I don't know. It puts pressure on people to dig for some great meaning and inspirational enlightening and it elevates the expectations for a book. A book that wasn't even meant to be published in the first place, it was just to be for the writer's family and friends. He was encouraged to get it published by those close to him. It wasn't meant for the public to pick apart and criticise. So I don't think he had a preconceived agenda to change people's vision of God or their beliefs. He simply just took what was going on in his mind and heart and put it onto paper.

If I were given that opportunity I'm sure my vision of God and my jumbled thoughts on my life and my life with God and all the questions I have...well, some people may think I'm a little wacky and out there too.

Undo

Wouldn't it be great if life included an "Undo" button?

When you think everything is going great, then something happens. Something stupid is said and you make yourself seem like a complete fool. Or something hurtful comes spewing out of your mouth and it was never intended to translate the way it did. Or in a fit of anger you do incredibly irrational things, resulting in embarrassment.

These are times where I think an "Undo" button would be very helpful. Actually there are a few keys on the keyboard that would be useful. "Backspace", "Delete", even "Home"...basically any keyboard function that will take me immediately back to the beginning or to the specific place where things went wrong and need to be corrected.

If only it were that easy.