Mack decides to go to the Shack. He intentionally hides this from his wife but his friend Willy finds out. Mack heads up to the shack and upon entering he explodes in anger at God.
He tries leaving but as he walks to Willy’s jeep, the world around him transforms into a perfect summer vacation spot. Mack questions his sanity but cannot deny the realness of what the Shack has become. Pushing through his unbelief, he goes to the front door and wonders what he ought to say to God when God answers the it.
The door swings open before he has the opportunity and there Mack is, faced with God Himself. He then gets introduced to the Son and the Holy Spirit. The emotions at that point were so powerful that Mack allows himself to believe. He has just met the trinity.
Alright…. gotta ask… do you guys find yourself telling your spouse everything, or do you hold things back, if you think they won’t like what you have to say?
..sigh..
He’s very close to me and so I have to be honest
(note sarcasm)
There are times when I take the same route that Mack did – the don’t ask, don’t tell technique. But my guilt-o-meter runs on MEGA HIGH and so I always end up telling my husband anyhow. And then I have to tell him with an apology attached, rather than just telling him straight up in the first place…
Raquel, you forgot to mention that he fell asleep. I think this adds to the tension and mystery of the book.
I laughed at this part, God saying, “Can I take your coat? And that gun? You don’t really need that, do you?” I don’t know why, but the subtle sarcasm and irony cracked me up.
It’s funny, it was less of a shock (and again, I totally get how God is beyond gender) for me to think of the Holy Spirit as a female than it was to think of the Father as a female. I am so conditioned.
I love Mack…
“‘Then,’ Mack struggled to ask, ‘which one of you is God?’
“‘I am,’ said all three in unison.”
I just began work this week (yippee!!) so if my comments are few and far between…you know why.
By the way Nicole, I would answer your question about my honesty with my spouse, but she’s sitting right here so I’ll have to wait until she leaves the room before I can honestly answer your question…
Love ya Jen!!
Verity,
I’m wondering if the reference to the Holy Spirit as female made you uncomfortable as well? Was the gender of it of equal surprise or lesser or more than that of God the Father?
-Rachel
Interesting question… I was extremely uncomfortable with any part of the Trinity referred to as female, but can picture the Spirit as more “genderneutral” than the Father…. like that makes sense. I do not think of Spirit as having a gender.
You guys are probably going to think I am overreacting here, but I was honestly disappointed that the author made the Father and the Spirit visible… I was reading 1 Timothy yesterday (while waiting to cross into your country : ) and 1v16 says: “who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”
I found this whole book to be irreverant, and did not enjoy the anthropromorphic aspects of it. God felt to me like one step up from man, a jovial black woman that listens to her mp3 player, shaking her booty, and making sarcastic jokes at Jesus.
“I do not think of Spirit as having a gender.”
Since God is spirit, did you just resolve your discomfort about God being genderless?
I think you felt what the Jews must have felt when they heard Jesus claim to be God; to earthy; to irreverent; just a carpenter; a friend of sinners.
I have recently purchased this book while my wife and I were out the other day and I find that I came across this book in a way that mack received his letter at the first of the book. I was at a book store and a lady came up to me and asked what it was I was looking for when I told her she suggested THE SHACK to me saying how it had changed her life and her husbands. Now I cant say that I am really a religous person but I can say that this took me be supprise. So I bought the book and began reading it last night and for the first time in my life I felt as though I was right there with mack through it all. I sat up until early in the morning reading this book and woke up to find myself wanting to read even more of it. Now I am ready for god on the dock chapter and I love this book. bear in mind I normally dont read books But I have to thank this woman who sent me in the right direction to THE SHACK!!!!
The Spirit was a dove. There were some Christophanies and some even say Theophanies in the OT. Young says it is just a form God chose to take and in the end, is this a vision or an actual personification? It is a literary device more than anything.
I must say.. this book made me laugh and enjoy God for who He really is. A great, Fun, Happy, God that Loves us and wants the best for us. Our God has a sense of humor… look at the fish in the sea… how about the crazy looking lizards…. and how about US?