I just read The Shack, and wondered at the possibility of Mack being “real”. His pain and his ultimate joy read to real to be fiction. I’m glad to have it cleared up.
Your words had (are having)a huge impact on my reality. I realize…I’ve never known true grace. I have understood the concept but have never experienced it in relationship with God. I am stunned, overwhelmed, and SO very grateful!

Thank you for this gift. I just have to share it.

I am very fond of this book!!!!

The perfect response in 7 words! Wonderful!

Thank you so much for sharing,,,it was such an amazing way to fellowship with my Daddy(mama),hahaha,,,,,Jesus and the Holy Spirit… ((((((((Paul)))))))

I have never cried and laughed at the same time. How does that even work? The line GOD said to mack that he looked like he had filled his pants (I am laughing right now) brought me to a place where I realized that our GOD is so very personal. Way to go dud ya did good.
gary

I was at work and asked a patient about the book she was reading. Before she left, she gave me her book. I was half way through the book by the next day. While at work, I came unglued. I started to cry and couldn’t much keep myself together, even though I kept scolding myself about how inappropiate my behavior was for a professional atmosphere. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. My husband helped me come to the conclusion that it was the book. I’m dissappointed that the story is fiction. I’m finished reading now. I really wanted Mack’s “God Experience” to be something that really happened to someone.

One of my friends recommended the book to me two days ago. I went out and got the very last copy in the area where I live in Cape Town. I started reading, and in the beginning I found the different “manifestations” of the trinity just a bit offending… but I read on. And it started to make so much sense to me. Of course it had to be those three persons!

I had to put the book down every now and then to cry first. It touched so many cords in my heart… Like Mack, I also struggle to really, really believe that God loves me in His Godly way. I must say at this point, that I am in a fulltime ministry with kids. So I should know these things. But it is sometimes just so difficult to trust…

This book brought a lot of healing for my own Great Sadness. Almost fourteen years ago my precious 10 year old son took his own life. I was with him that moment when he died in hospital, and although it felt like someone was cutting my heart out of my body with a red-hot iron, when his little heart stopped beating, I lay my head down on his chest, and my first thought was that nobody will ever hurt him again, that he was safe with his Heavenly Father. And I felt God’s presence and overwhelming peace in the room. It was so real, I thought if I looked up, I will certainly see Him. But I didn’t even have to… I knew He was there…

A few weeks later when the shock phase was over, I started blaming myself, God, my husband, the school teacher. The pain was just way too much for me to carry. I lay down on my bed, and drifted off. And then God blessed me with a vision. I saw my son standing in a field, crying. I started walking towards him, but as I came to the edge of the field, a man came from the side. I could see that he was wearing some kind of robe, and he had long brown hair. I stopped to watch. He reached my little one, bent over and wiped the tears from his face. I just stood there, I felt that I could not enter the field. Then the two of them turned away from me and started walking off. But they both looked back, my son waving. I could not see their faces, but I could see peace in their faces. I don’t know how else to explain what I saw. I realised that my child is with somebody who can take care of him, that he was at peace. And I can’t go where he is, I don’t have to, I can only rest in the knowledge that his suffering is over.

Still, I have secretly blamed myself for what happened though I was not at fault. I felt that I was his mother, and how could a mother not know when such a little one reaches that point of desperation that he goes to a room and take his life? I have done so many “good things” in my life and ministry, but still deep-down I felt guilty, not good enough. Like Mack, I just could not let go of that last bit of the Great Sadness. Well, together with Mack, I broke down and just cried with this father who blamed himself for the death of his daughter, and together I found forgiveness and healing for that.

Is the story of Mack real? Willie says no. But does it matter? I can tell you, it does not to me. This little book is from God. Whether it is fiction or not. Because only God can work this way, can convince of his love, mercy, forgiveness this way, can heal his children’s Great Sadness this way. Thank you Willie.

I loved it. It brought me closer to Papa then ever. I will probably read it again.
Shalom
Shirley

The Shack was given to me by a friend who said it changed her way of praying. We were driving from MI to FL so I started to read the book outloud to my husband. He said that is the first time he drove from MI to Fl with a lump in his throat. Because we were so touched by the book we are introducing it to a study group this week. If anyone has used the book with a study group I’d appreciate hearing from you. Especially, interested in the questions you used. Thanks,

I just finished reading The Shack.
It was a very profound book. I was a little offended at the way Father {papa] was protrayed at first, but as I finished reading it I understood why it was written that way.
It has made me see GOD as more accessable and understanding to what my needs are.
I work at a Christian bookstore, and will recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with there relationship with the Almighty GOD

In a world where people are always trying to “box” God in, I believe this book blows the door wide open to the true ‘limitless’ nature of “Papa” . . . He only limits Himself for the benefit of us, His children . . . all the ones (all of us) that He’s ‘especially fond of’! I’m reading the book for the second time and I don’t know how many times I’ll read it or refer it to friends and family! I can’t even begin to find adequate words to describe how it made my heart and soul sing and cry! Thank you for following God and writing the best fiction book I’ve ever read (and I’m 48)!!

I just finsished your book Mr. Young. I cried and laughed. I was truly touched. I have experienced deep emotions concerning my relationship with God. I did fully understand what grace was. This book has changed me from the inside. I truly was to live in love. I want to experience true relationships with my children and others. I have given this book to my daughter and another family memeber. I am spreading the word of true love. For the first time I am able to read the Bible without it being a duty.

Thank you so very much

I just finished The Shack.. I could hardly wait to get to the end and yet didn’t want it to end. I am absolutely blown away by this book. For the first time I understand what it means to live in relationship with God. Perhaps the most profound thing I took out of this was that God does not want to be a priority in my life …he wants to be at the center of my life..in everything I do, everything I think, he wants to be at the center. The parallels that were drawn between human parent(father)/human child brought this to a level I could relate to…where Mack begs to be taken rather than choose between his children as to which would be condemned to Hell took my breath away..Yes, we read this in the Bible…we are told in sermons and Sunday School that God loves us to much he sent his only Son to save us..but to have it put on a HUMAN level…what an AHA moment!! What this book did for me was to show me, in human parallels, and human “language” how much I am loved, how much God wants to be part of my life..and how “especialy fond of me He is”. This book made a huge difference in my life!!!! Fiction? Who cares. I’m sure God doesn’t because one more person has learned what it is to trust the one who loves me more than anything in the whole world.

I just finished the book. It is uncertain why I was drawn to this book at the bookstore but I’m glad I bought it. I realized after reading “The Shack” that I have always been living an “indepedent” life. I believed GOD didn’t really exists or if he did, he certainly didn’t love me enough to find my struggles worth addressing. What this book taught me is that I’m not succeeding in my “independent” world. My relationships were based on what I expected others to do to “help” me in my struggles. I have a very difficult time forgiving and this is at the heart of my anguish with my ex-husband. I think after reading this I understand that in forgiving I will be released of all my anger and there will be room for grace and more importantly, I can free myself to rely on GOD for my strength, hopes and peace. He and he alone understands me and this was clear in his understanding of Mack and his “Great Darkness”. I cried so much and finally, finally appreciated that GOD is loving and forgiving and fortunately, he was with me through my difficult times feeling my pain as I would if my children were hurting. I feel this is a start to a new me in my attitude and my actions and in how I deal with all the relationships in my life, above all, my relationship with GOD.

I am on my second reading of The Shack. What a paradigm shift. What a wonderful way to find my life with Pappa. I bought two books in order to share. I want to keep it with me all the time. This story must be shared.

I received this book The Shack as a birthday gift from my sister-in-law. I couldn’t put it down. The part about God being,”especially fond of each of us” really touched me. I’m planning on getting more copies to give as gifts to my family. Wow! What a book I think everyone should read.

Willie says he “made it up” - well, OK. But it is so highly anointed, it had to be the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus Who really authored it. It beautifully expresses deep insights in their fullness that I’ve been writing and sharing since the late 1970’s. See some of my website articles for free downloading. -css

I saw your interview on the 700 club and ordered the book soon after. I loved the book and encouraged my pastor husband to read it also. He now will not let the book out of his sight as it has inspired and enabled him to more fully teach what he has believed all along. I am ordering a dozen more to give out at our church. Thank you so much for putting on paper such incredible simple truths that most of us miss along life’s paths.

Mr Young,
While visiting NEW YORK with my 16 year old daughter I noticed a NY Paper that had an article in it about this book. It caught my attention. During a “lull” in our busy toursit day, we went to Barnes and Nobles and found the book. My daughter and I settled in to read a bit at the store and I was immediatly caught up in the story. I have stopped throughout the day and read a little bit more, shared some of it with my 16 year old and called my mother in Oregon buy it ASAP. I feel compelled to share this with others.
You started out writing a book for your children, you ended up writing one for mine, thank you.

I have been a correctional officer for seven year. My relationship with God was not a personal one when I started. I realized, my first day at the prison, that I would either find God more or lose me forever. I too had a very delusional childhood. I stuble around this world, looking for a glimps at Jesus. I live for him more everyday. This book has gave me a seed to start my owm tree of life. I thank you. I can finally understand the feelings of longing I have had. I have always been confusing to everyone around me. My lonely feeling went into this book and connected with Mack. I do not feel alone anymore with my confussion. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will be all God teaches me to be in the jail. Today, I will carry your book to many I meet at work. I feel the hope in it will bless all that are hurting with unreleased pains, as it has for me. This book should be giving to all inmates, everywhere. One thing that I have learned from the job is, there is only two kinds of inmates. The ones that were loved to much or none at all. This book had to come from the God I have been saved by. I am now armed with more lessons of survival for the inmates, The Shack. Which I know will lead more of them to the God I love.

I just finished the book. I lost a son, Caleb, some twenty years ago to heart disease at the age of 17 1/2 months old. He was the only child I ever had. You can’t imagine the healing that I am walking through as a result of your story. I love the Lord and have walked with him for many years - many angry and hurt years, but oh how I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit lifting The Great Sadness from my being. THANK YOU so very much for writing this wonderful story - it is changing my life.

If we don’t understand LOVE we will not be able to be faithfull. This book opens your heart to LOVE, the most powerfull force in the universe. I am reading it bit by bit to absorb all the precious contents of it. Like where Jesus said -rigts are where survivors go, so that they won’t have to work out relationship, if you give up your rights you would begin to know the wonder and adventure of living in Me. This book will certainly make a lot of us free.

Thank you my friend.

I have lived most of my life in fear of a god who must be so disappointed in me that he just had to be waiting to boot me into hell. Bible study and prayer only seemed like hopeless attempts to appease a disappointed god. A renewed desire to study the Bible and know God combined with this book have brought me to a new understanding of God and His desire for relationship with me. This book came along at just the right time in my Bible study. It was as if someone was collecting my own discoveries and realizations and putting them in print, only it used characters to illustrate God, which I wouldn’t have dared imagine but can’t deny. In between tears and smiles, I couldn’t help but think of all the family and friends whose hands I want to get this book in. I not only look forward to living the rest of my life to please God, but also look forward to experiencing his delight in me both here and in Heaven. Thank you for sharing your thoughts for your children with your brothers and sisters.

Toe ek die boek koop by Cum Boeke het die dame my gewaarsku as ek dit nie met ‘n “open mind” lees nie, sal ek nie van die boek hou nie. Hierdie boek het vir my ‘n nuwer dimensie geleer van my verhouding met die Here en ek het besef hoe ons alles rondom ons christelike lewe altyd in ‘n sekere vorm wil plaas met sekere reëls, metodes, rituele, ens. Dit was vir my absoluut wonderlik om te leer dat die God wat ons dien, nie so ‘n God is nie, want Hy het ons elkeen uniek geskape en net soos wat ons ‘n unieke verhouding met elkeen van ons kinders het, so het ons ook ‘n unieke verhouding met Hom. Dit laat my so vry voel om in Sy teenwoordigheid net myself te wees!! Dankie Willie vir ‘n meesterstuk. Ek hoop regtig die uiteinde van hierdie boek sal ‘n film wees. Ek het so pas Pilgrim’s Progress op film gesien, dit word binnekort uitgereik en dit saam met The Shack het vir my ‘n nuwe geestelike wêreld laat oopgaan. Mag die Here hierdie boek, die skrywer en ook sy gesin ryklik seën en mag baie mense genesing ontvang en in ‘n dieper verhouding met hul Vader kom.

I just finished reading The Shack as suggested by my pastor. WOW! It was the hardest best book I have read in a very long time. My own son was murdered and missing for 2 weeks before his body was found. That lead us to 3 1/2 years in the legal system which is not that healing for someone in excruciating pain. My husband, son and I have gone through many times with the Lord that were very special to us - I call them my “little Miracles.” I found when reading this book that there was still more healing to take place and I am letting the Lord take me again to a new place where I am sure more love for PAPA will again be the reward. This book verbalized so well the pain and thoughts that have run through my mind all of these years. Thanks for this incredible new salvation!

Tammy, Mack’s God Experience is something that happens everyday! People get saved! They give their hearts and lives to Jesus and they live for him. The Shack is a book with an answer for you and everyone else. That answer is Jesus Christ. Give your heart and life to Him and you will see Him one day face to face and you have a blessed eternal life to look forward to.

Finally, a novel that says Grace is a person instead of a thing and that He wants to be our only Life! Many Christian writers leave one feeling that Christ died in vain because I find I can’t live up to the law that says I must “copy Jesus” or they give you the feeling that maybe you will do better next time instead of “….how every human is designed to live-out of my life.”

I have never in my life experienced a book as I have this one. I read all the time, however after this book I don’t want to read anything else which is strange for me. I will probably read this all over again. I have never laughed and cried so hard in my life as when I read this book.

Willie - I want to personally thank you for this gift. I have a greater understanding of who Papa, Jesus and Sanaya really are. This was a spiritual gift that I could never repay you for all I can say is THANK YOU and God Bless you or in this case Papa Bless you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Cathie

Oh but it is sooooo real!!! It did/does happen. Better than any preacher I’ve ever heard TRY to explain the mysterious relationship of The Trinity and how The Trinity lives within us, you have given us the story that allows us to understand. You are the instrument, and I am grateful to you. Thank you, Papa, for giving us this story that brings you right into our lives and shows us that we are the only things holding us back from the wonderful Blessed Assurance you’ve given us.

Truly God inspired this writing to Willie for all of us to be enriched, blessed, drawn to Him, healed and so many other verbs we can experience with the reading of this wonderful book. A revelation of great importance of the meaning of sacrifice, relationship and love.