The Shack

By William P Young

Posted on September 16, 2008 12:00 AM MST by Kasey Heinly

When his youngest daughter, Missy, is abducted during a family camping trip, Mack descends into the depths of The Great Sadness. It surrounds him constantly, muting the rest of his life to a colorless gray. Not even his daughter Kate's own struggles with Missy's death are enough to snap him out of it.

But in the middle of a treacherous ice storm, Mack receives a strange note signed simply "Papa" that invites him back to the shack where Missy's murder took place. Is it a cruel joke? A wicked game played by Missy's killer? Or something still more terrifying-- is it an invitation from God, whom Mack's wife lovingly refers to as "Papa?" Determined to find out, Mack journeys to the shack looking for answers, and what he finds leaves him forever altered.

Young's tale is, if nothing else, a worthy read. It is thought-provoking, challenging, and insightful. While I didn't agree on every theological point, it is clear that the main question of the story is central to our faith: Is the God who allows unspeakable tragedy to occur still a loving God? That question alone makes The Shack worth exploring. The journey via a man’s rage, guilt, and anguish over his daughter’s death into the divine will challenge your faith and call to your heart.

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