Today’s post is about The Shack Movie
*slight spoiler alert
I read the book, The Shack by William P Young about nine years ago. My youngest daughter was about the same age as the character Missy in the book who goes missing and is tragically murdered. I remember putting the book down for two weeks when I got to the part where she disappears. It hit too close to home and the description of the little girl matched perfectly to my daughter at the time. I picked up the book again and actually skipped through the middle chapters to fast forward to the scene where Mack goes to the shack to meet Papa (God).
I remember reading the book and being so moved by the love of these three characters (The Trinity) meeting Mack. They delicately meet him exactly where he was with this horrible tragedy that had caused him such anger, grief and sorrow. I was so impressed with how the author depicted each character of the Trinity with such unique qualities that were so different yet so similar. I remembered I finished with a great sense of who God was to me. I started understanding more fully the unconditional love He has for each of us. The three in one mystery of God is delicately portrayed through the three characters that meet Mack and help him to gain an understanding of who God really is to us and how important we are to Him.
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
I loved how God chooses to meet Mack as a tender caring mother type figure. God knew that Mack had a hard time with his own father. He had harbored bitterness toward his father because of his past experiences with his abusive father. Mack can relax with this nurturing mother type as she answers all the hard questions he has about the tragic death of his daughter.
The three in one characters distinctively give Mack answers and illustrations showing him how all things are connected and effect each other. He meets up with Wisdom who shares revelations about how we choose to sit in the judgement seat and make false judgements that are without all the facts many times. I thought for sure I would be disappointed with the movie because it could never match the magnitude of the influence the book had on me nine years ago.
Boy, was I completely wrong. The movie provided amazing visuals and a story line that sticks closely to the message of the book. The producers did a fantastic job not losing the power of the message and bringing the story to life on the big screen. I would recommend you see the movie and sit in the judgement seat and decide for yourself if this production doesn’t stretch your heart to allow more room for God and less room for false judgments against yourself and others.
You will leave the theater after watching The Shack feeling like the Grinch whose heart just grew three sizes that day.
Go see the movie with an open mind and see if your heart doesn’t burst with new revelations about God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
His favorite,
Kelley Allison
http://www.bowlofsplendor.com
You are his favorite too!!
“Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.”
William Paul Young, The Shack
Restored People Community 
Love your review. I never read the book but had heard of it of course. I saw the movie recently and I was moved to tears as I marveled at how God works all things together for our good – even in tragedies. It was a beautiful illustration of who He is and how much he loves us.
Yes- absolutely! Thank you so much.
Well said. I saw the movie this week and keep thinking how much I resonated it. One has to hear when Papa as the black woman tells Mack something like, I didn’t think you could handle a father right now. Later, as Papa enters Mack’s room as an older man he tells him he will need a strong father right now. The writer and the movie director had to put skin on God. After the movie, I heard someone read the conversation between God and Moses in Exodus where Moses asks God if he could see his face. no one can see my face and live, God says. But I will pass by and you will see my glory. Don’t you just love how God is not molded into our image? We are made in His. Great movie.
Yes! Thank you