So if ya'll know me at
all, you know that
I don't read. Since I was in elementary school I hated the fact that we had to read for comprehension and be able to answer those questions on the Accelerated Reader test. I mean, I couldn't read for fun I HAD to remember it all so I would be able to answer the test questions and obviously get an A. So I just didn't read. And I was that person in high school who kept Spark Notes in business at the local B&N because I didn't read. Maybe 3 books in my four years of high school. And college? It's a good thing I'm a good listener. I never cracked a book. In my women's literature class we read like 12 books that semester, how many did I actually read? One. Grade? A. (Yea, my kids know I'm a genius. More like a good BSer.)
Anywho, so our 20s/30s group at church decided to read
The Shack and then discuss it. I was hesitant at first because we had so much going on; how in the world was I going to find time to read too? I managed to squeak by the first meeting we had and blamed our poor scheduling and moving. But then my cousin Mary told me about the book (completely not knowing that I was supposed to be reading it with the church group) and suggested I read it. I mean, after she said something to me about it, I
knew I was
supposed to read this book. So we got another month to read the book. The Sunday before our Tuesday meeting I started reading the novel on the way home from DC. And look -- I didn't put it down. For the next 3 days every free break I got (even a second while the kids were working on their own) I was reading. I highly recommend it to everybody! (And I DON'T read.)
The story is about a man who's daughter is killed and the story takes place three years later. He receives a note from God to meet him at "The Shack." So he goes and has this amazing experience with God (and Jesus and the Holy Spirit) and it's just amazing. The theology introduced in the story you really can't argue with. It's pure, basic Christian belief. My favorite part is the fact that God is portrayed as a large Black woman. I know my Southern Christian peeps will be all pissy because God
obviously can't be a woman (pshhht... whatever.) but the author makes a really good statement by proving that our "image" of God as this old white man with a beard is crazy. God is in everyone and everything. And I mean, who's not going to stop and listen to a big Black woman. Most of the big Black women in my life are crazy powerful and rule the roost at their homes.... much like a God figure.
There were parts of the book that really stood out to me and I'll have to read it again and wait a little bit to see exactly what kind of an impact the story has on me but it really opened my eyes. A few of my favorite parts are below...
Mack talks with God about his worries and God says "...do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?" --> omg. Amazing. It was like God was talking to me and not Mack. I needed that.
Mack is talking with Jesus about what it means to be a Christian and Jesus replies, "Who said anything about being a Christian? I'm not a Christian."... "Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved. " --> This is proof to me that we can coexist. Yes, I have my beliefs and my faith, but others' beliefs and faiths are not wrong and that we can live together peacefully and have respect for other religions. If only I could preach that to the rest of the world...
So all in all I love this book. I highly recommend it. And don't look for another book review from me again soon. Like I said, I don't read.
