The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity

by William Paul Young

You know that place: where there is just you alone—and maybe God, if you believe in him. Of course, God might be there even if you don’t believe in him. That would be just like him. He hasn’t been called the Grand Interferer for nothing.

Everything is about him. And freedom is a process that happens inside a relationship with him. Then all that stuff you feel churnin’ around inside will start to work its way out.”

“Don’t ever think that what my Son chose to do didn’t cost us dearly. Love always leaves a significant mark,”

I’m not merely the best version of you that you can think of. I am far more than that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think.”

“A bird is defined not by being grounded but by his ability to fly. Remember this, humans are defined not by their limitations, but by the intentions I have for them; not by what they seem to be, but by everything it means to be created in my image.”

Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to hold power over another is to choose to limit oneself—to serve.

Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.

Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.”

God is a verb.

Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries. —Elizabeth Barrett Browning