The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity

by William Paul Young

overflowing with sprays of wildflowers. Wallowa Lake is the gateway into the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, which sports the deepest gorge in North America. Carved out over centuries by the Snake River, it reaches a couple miles top to bottom in places, and ten miles at times from rim to rim. Seventy-five percent of the Recreation Area is roadless, with more than 900 miles of hiking trails. Once the domain of the prevailing Nez Perce tribe, the remnants of their presence are scattered throughout this wilderness, as well as those of white settlers traveling through on their way to the West. The nearby town of Joseph was named for a powerful tribal chief whose Indian name meant Thunder Rolling down the Mountain. This area is home to an abundance of flora and wildlife including elk, bear, deer, and mountain goat. The presence of rattlers, especially as you get closer to the Snake River, is reason enough to hike cautiously, should you

“Only I can set you free, Mackenzie, but freedom can never be forced.”

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.”

But then Adam chose to go it on his own, as we knew he would, and everything got messed up. But instead of scrapping the whole Creation we rolled up our sleeves and entered into the middle of the mess—that’s what we have done in Jesus.”

“Papa?” Mack finally said in a way that felt very awkward, but he was trying. “Yes, honey?” Mack struggled for the words to tell her what was in his heart. “I’m so sorry that you, that Jesus, had to die.”

Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to power is to choose to limit oneself—to serve. Humans often do this—in touching the infirm and sick, in serving the ones whose minds have left to wander, in relating to the poor, in loving the very old and the very young, or even in caring for the other who has assumed a position of power over them.”

“Humans are so lost and damaged that to you it is almost incomprehensible that people could work or live together without someone being in charge.”

you cannot produce trust just like you cannot ‘do’ humility. It either is or is not. Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not know that I love you, you cannot trust me.”

Even should we find another Eden, we would not be fit to enjoy it perfectly nor stay in it forever. —Henry Van Dyke

this garden is your soul. This mess is you! Together, you and I, we have been working with a purpose in your heart. And it is wild and beautiful and perfectly in process. To you it seems like a mess, but to me, I see a perfect pattern emerging and growing and alive—a living fractal.”

Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy.”

Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.

Love is just the skin of knowing.

“But why do we keep all that crap inside?” Mack asked. “Because we believe it’s safer there. And, sometimes, when you’re a kid trying to survive, it really is safer there. Then you grow up on the outside, but on the inside you’re still that kid in the dark cave surrounded by monsters, and out of habit you keep adding to your collection. We all collect things we value, you know?”

It’s all about relationships and simply sharing life. What we are doing right now—just doing this—and being open and available to others around us. My church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can’t build it.

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

When they want people to do what they think is right, they need a stern God. When they need forgiveness, they run to Jesus.”

Guilt’ll never help you find freedom in me.

“Will you please forgive me,” Mack finally offered. “Did that a long time ago, Mack. If you don’t believe me, ask Jesus. He was there.”

“That’s because my love is a lot bigger than your stupidity,”

Love that is forced is no love at all.”

if you and I are friends, there is an expectancy that exists within our relationship. When we see each other or are apart, there is expectancy of being together, of laughing and talking. That expectancy has no concrete definition; it is alive and dynamic and everything that emerges from our being together is a unique gift shared by no one else. But what happens if I change that ‘expectancy’ to an ‘expectation’—spoken or unspoken? Suddenly, law has entered into our relationship. You are now expected to perform in a way that meets my expectations. Our living friendship rapidly deteriorates into a dead thing with rules and requirements. It is no longer about you and me, but about what friends are supposed to do, or the responsibilities of a good friend.”

They exchanged sobbing words of confession and forgiveness, as a love greater than either one healed them.

An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others. —A. W. Tozer

“Don’t ever discount the wonder of your tears. They can be healing waters and a stream of joy. Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak.”