friday thinking....

people waiting in line for apple iphones...people waiting in line to see "the dark knight"...what are YOU waiting on?

papa…is that you?

It started out simple. A book referral from a dear friend. It ended up with a tear stained face Bendy that had a very full heart.
That’s the beginning and the end.

Let’s get to the inbetween…

Yesterday a friend told me about a book she’d just finished that was the absolute best. Well, she and I are usually on the same wavelength, so after work I shot over to Border’s and picked up “The Shack.” This book is currently #1 on the best seller list. Pretty impressive. Let’s check out the meat in that sandwich to see if it’s truly up to the #1 placing.

The plot…

A story about loss. Sounds like something you’d want to read, right? Nice and depressing. Hold your horses…I’m not done. Three of the major characters (and I do mean characters) are the Holy Trinity. Yep…THE BIG THREE. Oh no…a “churchy” book!! Hang on fireball…don’t be so quick to judge! I will not share all the in’s and outs. Hopefully what I DO share will peak your interest enough that you will actually read the book.

Perception…

I can’t tell your story, but I was raised with a picture of God in my head as a man dressed in flowing white robes with long white hair and a white beard. Jesus, of course, looked just like the picture that appears somewhere in most churches, some Bibles, and of course emails these days. You know the one. Great wavy brown hair, dark, soulful eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard. (Did they have razors in those days???) As for the Holy Spirit…that was one I could never visually wrap my mind around. Those visuals can exit stage left.

Enter the Big Three of “The Shack.”

There’s Papa…A large black woman that is constantly cooking something that would make you want to slap your momma while your grandmother watched. (Okay…Southerner’s get that. Not being disrespectful to my womenfolk.) There’s Jesus, the one that wears the scruffy overalls and works a lot with his hands. He’s a little on the homely side. And finally, there’s Sarayu…there ethereal being that one can’t actually get a clear visual because she’s always moving. These three minister to Mack, who happens to be the main character that experienced loss.

The crux of the story…

Wisdom…knowledge…gaining the understanding that it isn’t all about religion. It’s about having a very meaningful, loving, deep relationship with God who is three in one. God shows himself to us in forms that we can understand…that we’re comfortable with…that we can talk to face to face and question and love. He is not intimidating, sitting up there on His throne casting judgment down upon us for messing up on a Commandment. He’s kind and loving and a listener and He speaks to us. He longs for that intimate relationship.

This book will make you laugh, make you cry and hopefully give you some insight to what Papa has wanted all along….to have a relationship with each and every one of His children.

I could not put this book down and finished it last night. For more info go to www.theshackbook.com