I love writing that makes you go “hmmm…something to consider”. To me it’s like eating a meal slowly, savoring each bite.

Thanks for that Paul!

Ok, that’s what I get for reading this during a break at work.. Now I have to figure out what to do with the tears!

I love the distinction between Truth and facts.. reality.

Truth is so much more powerful.

Mark

My son gave us this book a year ago. It is if not the best, one of the best books I have ever read. I told my wife ,who has read it twice, that no one could write such beautiful story like this without an encounter with God. It is such a revelation of how the Father,Jesus,and the Holy Spirit love and care for there creation. Thank you

Wonderful there, Bro. You painted such a great picture… made me feel like I was really there and in the place of that disciple. Thank you!

I hope you’re writing that next book.

I was shopping in the middle of the day recently, in a good size store with only myself and a couple of clerks. Two men, different than me, walked in and were a bit loud. My first reaction was that I was about to witness a robbery and I had a few moments of fear, looking around as to how to get out of the store. The two men ended up looking at merchandise and as I came to my senses that my fears were based on prejudice, I continued with my shopping and purchase. How sad that in me still lives some of the religious person that walked on the other side of the road so as not to be contaminated. Where does that irrational fear come from? Thanks be to God that I can be FREE, and free indeed in Jesus.

Thanks for putting me in the story, and allowing me to be there in the pages of truth. Better yet to be with THE Truth.

Grace.
Scotty

Paul,

This quote was so right: “The truth of a story like this parable is much more significant than just the sum of its parts, in fact, Truth belongs to a different realm of existence and significance than facts and reality.”

So many ‘facts and realities’, but coming to Know the Truth, therein lies true freedom!

Hopefully when you come to the Toronto-Kitchener area, we’ll be able to meet.

Rich

“I don’t have to do what my hurt and pain tell me.”

That’s good, Paul. I think I need a fast from my emotional feasting.

Chad

[…] both men by the end of their conversation. Here's a little sample—I hope you'll visit Wind Rumors for the entire story—where the impatient follower of Jesus discovers the reason he has been approached by this […]

Lovely Post Paul….God help us…. “it could be us!”

Yet once again, something that strikes straight to the heart. The slow to realize man, it can be me. The one that cares for another, it can be me. The element I liked about this was that the disciple did not give up on the man till he got it and the man did not give up till he got it. Showing it doesn’t matter how long it takes, just don’t give up till you got it.

Michael

Wonderful story - I tend to learn best through stories - thank you for sharing yours!

[…] Young on Fiction, Truth, Reality and all that stuff… the parable of the Good Samaritan and other insights that creep up on […]

Dear Willie — is it okay to call you by that name from the book? I just finished the book (The Shack) tonight. I have not been this affected by a book in a long time. What a wonderful depiction of the truth of Trinity, the beauty of the magnificent fellowship of our God. Thank you, it was rich to read this book, took me into that locale, invited me to allow Jesus to touch my heart at new places and spoke to my heart. Thank you for the freedom and joy with which you wrote. I loved this book and am so thankful for it.

How God has used you. I agree with another of the comments that says it is the kind of book that caused me to say “hmmm” and consider what you had written. I will be a part of the Missy Project seeking to spread the word on this book.

May God, the beautiful, triune, wonderful Father, Son and Spirit continue to pour himself into and through you.

I am a pastor of a local church in Banks Oregon.

God bless you.

Brian

You’ve put handles on what may be the most important truths in the Bible. I’m considering going through the book (again) and connecting the dots between The Shack and The Word - unless someone has already done that (and I would be surprised if they haven’t).

Thank you for this wonderful tool for expressing God’s heart.

I think Pastor Ron has the same inclination I have had reading this AMAZING book…THE SHACK. I want to connect the dots with scripture. Re-connect myself to the TRUTH sometimes hidden in HIS Word. I will read it again, and again to get this digging going better…a favorite quote…”I tell you one thing, if you learn it by yourself, if you have to get down and dig for it, it never leaves you. It stays there as long as you live because you had to dig it out of the mud before you learned what it was.” Aunt Addie Norton, or Rabun County, Georgia - quoted in a Foxfire Book. So, it comes to me that you dug some truth out of your experiences, and God be praised that this book has been printed. I will do my share to tell about it.
Sincerely written,
Bonnie Walker

Hey a guy who has tears from reading a book!!! Wow

What are you doing reading it at work??

Parables are stories made up of false parts that contain truth that is larger than their sum. The Shack is a first class parable. It is not a theology but a story of life. Life can be analyzed by theology but only lives in life. Theology is akin to looking at analyzing amino acids and DNA strains. We can lay them all down on the floor in the right order and cry out “Live” but it will never arise and breathe. Only the Breath of God (the Spirit) can do that and He does that in life… and always in a relationships. “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” The Word is our foundation… theology is our analysis but when the Spirit moves it seems messy to our categories and offends our boundaries because our attempt at circling God with pen and ink always falls short of the Glory of God. That’s why stories like The Shack tell us about the life of God better than our systematic theology. Oh… doesn’t God ususally reveal the most about Himself when He meets us in the Shacks of our lives?

I can’t stop smiling !!! Thank you

Greetings,

The wife brought another Christian book home a few weeks ago.

To calm her rave reviews, I read a couple of chapters late in the book. Sorta confusing, but I liked the parts that took shots at traditional organized religion. We are conveted Jehovah’s Witnesses (though, neither ever baptised as JW’s) now embroiled in the local Presbyterian Church in Camas, WA.

After more urging from my wife, I finally started reading “The Shack” from the beginning. Thanks for all the tears and keeping me up late on a work night - at least I didn’t miss all of the Super Bowl.

“Papa” in The Shack brings up a strong sense of deja vue a’ La Matrix (the Hollywood movie) wherein the protagonist (Neo Anderson) meets the Oracle who is a large, motherly, wise and loving black woman.

I’m left wondering if Willie ever sat through The Matrix - Or perhaps The Shack predates The Matrix. Either way, both have left lasting impressions on my theological outlook…

Shalom,

-King Richard
Washougal, WA

I wasn’t sure after reading this book how correct it was theologically but I did know for sure that my heart, mind and soul had been changed. I asked my husband to read it and he too felt the impact of the book. Although there were some things we didn’t agree with theologically, the truth was so stunning. What a burst to my imagination to see God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit interacting in a way I could never have allowed my self to believe was true but makes so much sense. After reading “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn and now “The Shack”, my imagination has soared with the possibilities that I never would have dared to dream. It has made me long for my eternal home and the God that I felt was so high that my only interaction with him would be to worship and adore. How limiting for Him and for me. I fell in love with God in a way that I never thought I could.

Please tell me if there’s a Spanish version of this book! You have to translate it in at least 5 major languages. I am willing to translate it any time. I have so many people that could use the Shack, but unfortunately do not live in the US or speak English. Ayway, all that to say “thank you God, thank you Willie.”

PERFECT! This entry explains The Shack’s perspective perfectly.

You tell beautiful stories, stories that matter in a world of feel good entertainment.

Well done.

Laurel
aka The Pissed Off One - wish I could write like that!

Paul:
I have been waiting to say this and feel like this is a great time.
Having met you in sept, after reading “the Shack” I was affected much more by spending time with “The Author” than just reading the Book.
What a privilege to have met you.
You kinda remind me of Papa,Jesus and Sarau
Thanks
AL

I just finished reading your book…. I read from about the 3rd chapter on to my husband….. we sat all day last Saturday reading it, crying and at times so hard I had to put the book down. I was crying not only as a mother who has lost 6 children to miscarriage and as a mother of 4 little girls here on earth, I was crying because I saw so much of myself so independent and not living in the relationship He desires because I know He is especially fond of me. I feel my eyes have been opened and I feel an excitement and stirring growing, books like these help the Bride get ready!
thank you for your obedience to write this book….it was messy and hard and exactly what this family needed!

WOW!!! My brother told me about “The Shack”, I laughed and cried and most of all seeing the grace of God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit is all about love, forgiveness, grace, faith and hope. Thank you for such an inspiring look into the presence of our Lord. I will be giving this book to all I come into contact with. God Bless you!
Love in Christ,
Pamela Dewing

Thank you for a wonderful book. Truth and fiction are so close here. I’ve personally known two people in life who have had documented death experiences and have told me a similar story, of their encounter with God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit. It was difficult for me to read this as fiction.

I have a list of people the Lord has told me to gift this book to. The theology is as close to what I’ve always believed about the Father/Son/Holy Spirit and I pray this book reaches far and wide into our culture.

Thank you so much for writing it and being obedient to printing it for us.
Diane

I read The Shack last week, just after being too busy for too long, being too busy with mostly church work… how refreshing and wonderful to see God face to face at the end of a busy week! I’ve given 2 copies to my co-workers hoping to have conversations here.
So many times this week I’ve heard people say things that sounded a little down or off center, I wanted to tell them not to worry, and that God is particularly fond of them.

From the other post it seems to be having the same effect on everyone!
Glad to be in the number this time.
Linda

i had started reading it at work and had to stop that cause it made me too emotional at work. it is a beautiful story that really affects the heart. loved it and thank you for it!

I nearlly fell out of my chair as God came out as a Black
African-American because as a younger lady I dreamed nearlly every night that I would come home from an exhausting day at work and a black woman would greet me at the door and say, “honey chil, jest sit youself down in this big ole chair and let me rub youse feets.” She always had a smile and hug for me as I entered the house and her name was Glorie. Could God have been trying to break some of my religious barriers even 35 + years ago? Do ya think?
I am glad I fly now, the book has even made it easier.
Thank you for writing it.

There’s a family in my neighborhood who I pray for often. You see, they too love Papa and once believed, and maybe still do, that He loves them too. Last year their son was taken from them and his body was never found. He just vanished. No one has come forward with any clues to what happened to him. Because the family lives close I have seen them in the neighborhood from time to time. They have long given up hope of him returning to them and I can see “the great sadness” weighing them down. Everytime I see them I pray for them to… I don’t even know what, get healed, free, forgiveness, peace… When I read this book I wept from beginning to end not just for their pain anymore but now, finally, for their answers. I will drop this book on their step and pray that the next time I see them “the great sadness” will be replaced with a new found joy in knowing that He is especially fond of them. Thank you.

Willie,
Grace Mercy and peace to you my friend.What a great work[The Shack] in the pages of your book of fiction are hidden
some of God the Fathers deep truths…God has used you in a might way and I am sure He has much in store for you to do and will keep guiding you in the work that He has given you .I think that “The Shack” would make a even better movie
if it is possible to get better:-)
LORD HAVE MERCY
JIM

I just finished reading the Shack. I loved it. I was so pleased at the way God the father,Jesus,the Son and the Holy Spirit were portrayed. I have just gone through a difficult divorce,and now have a teenaged daughter expecting twins. After reading Blue Like Jazz, i vowed never to read another “christian”book again. But God in his infinite grace and mercy brought this lovely work of fiction into mylife. I constantly imagine Papa and the warm embrace that only He can give.

God’s laws are not restrictive but open. What man calls nature is actually within the openness of God’s law and yet God does the supernatural, why? Because He is above His nature which He created. I think of it as a painting that God is forever changing His mind about what goes where and how this works and that works. I also think, correction, KNOW, He is working in all dimensions, rather than just three as we are.

I should have written this prior to my mini-sermonette but I did want to say, “Right On!” I truly believe a lot of the concepts you wrote about and believe your grasp on the truth is indeed rich and deep. THanks for writing such a powerful book!!!

All my love (and I have more comments!!!)

I just finished reading the Shack yesterday and Wow… I can’t stop thinking about it, the impact it is having on me is incredible. I laughed & cried,but mostly pondered, as my picture of God was being reshaped as I read… Wow…I have been a christian for a long time and am a pastor, and this is such an incredible story of the love of the Father,Son and Holy Spirit, it has definately impacted me deeply and caused a fresh look at everything….Thank You so much for writing well and drawing us into the story!

just wanted to throw my 2 cents worth in as well.

i spent the better part of a weekend entertaining this book, and i have to say Gods hand seems to be apon it. It brought me to a place where i had to examine my own precepts of Jesus (well GOd in general). i have an 18month old daughter and found myself struggling with the story, from anger to rage to tears to wanting and craving that Love that has always been there.
I admitt i struggled at first with disagreements in theology, only to blasted by the Holy Spirit into Truth not fact. Im not sure if anyone else sees it in me but i have to say i feel (although you cant trust emotions =) ) like when the Lord first took me. i feel a softening of the heart and wanting and willingness to just love as Christ loves, no matter how hard it may be. I do strugle deeply inside with the anger that arose from the thoughts someone harming a child, yet i understand if only a little where Papa is coming from with FORGIVENESS.
I personally am telling others of the book, and pray that the outcome shall challenge others as well to recieve TRUELY the one that Loved us first.

Very well said….

Willie, since we talked yesterday this story ended up playing a role in my Saturday adventure. The Spirit certainly moves in mysterious ways.

http://nthegarden.blogspot.com/2008/03/love-that-heals.html

I’m curious why olivia said she wouldn’t read another “Christian” book after reading “Blue Like Jazz”. I recently read that one, then was given “The Shack”, and found both to be very good. Anything that makes you think about your relationship with God and forces you to push into Him and to get closer to Him to find the Truth can’t, to me, be a bad thing.

I bought this book for my 14 year old daughter because I am encouraging her to read more. Well she ended up reading most of this book to me as we spent time together over the weekend. As she read to me, my heart and eyes were opened to see how much daddy loves me. He has been telling me that all my life but I didn’t really believe it. This book has made me laugh and although I bought it for my daughter, I think Papa wanted me to experience it with her. I know He has a wonderful sense of humor and I love the warmth and truth that is shown in this book. Truly this writer has been with God….thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your heart with us. I am enriched all the more and will read this for myself more than once.

i cried too……..c

Wonderfull Book about Dad. It is good to hear that I and you both of us are one’s He is particularly fond of. I was especially thrilled to hear about “dream flying.” I have not done it in along time or from our Dad’s perspective, a few nanoseconds. Perhaps soon THE Spirit will put me aloft again. I will order copies to distribute. I also know that for you to hear that your writing has helped me is most important to you. Hoping to meet you some day either here or there, while occupying and awaiting His sson and Glorious return, I remain
yihs

ron

And as promised….

I do believe that anything that causes you to consider your relationship with Papa is so wonderful. Anything that enriches it truly enriches your life. My life my prayer life my life in general is so much richer because I know that God is there in control of the car about to hit me or when I get hit in an accident or when I fall asleep or go into surgery. God’s knowledge and foreknowledge and wonderment is there.

Lydia

What a book! I don’t read fiction much but felt the leading to buy this book and I am so glad I did. I will never be the same, it just keeps me thinking about papa, Jesus and HS. I too, pray it will become a movie. I plan to give it to many.

Blessings, Jeanette

I began reading The Shack upon departure from Istanbul this morning. Being in a foreign environment and not knowing the nature of the book–other than it was a good Christian fiction recommended by a friend–I had no idea how captivating it would be. Nay, overwhelming. I fought a dozen times to hold back tears, a couple of times unsuccessfully. I am about half way through but the wonderful cadence, the thoughtful honesty of its author shines through transparently. I lost my dad shortly after college–he was my best friend–and my little sister took her life two years ago…so the pain and anguish in the book resound deeply. Like Mack, the story has a healing nature and so I am excited to continue this life changing book. Thank you Willie. May God continue to shine through your pen!

OH man! I loved this book so much. I am so happy to find others I can share with about this. My pastor reccommended it and has our church reading it. So many of us love it. Thanks Pastor Bob! I want to share this also with so many. I wish I could afford to buy tons and hand them out everywhere. I may have to settle with letting go of my copy at first.

Honestly I totally struggled with truth versus fiction on this one. I have a good imagination as it is and this was just so exciting. I cried through it all. I got into the habit of having my towel near by while I read. I just wish words could let you know how much this has truly left me in awe of God.

I am working on my husband. I have to get him to read this. HE needs so much of the truth about forgiveness, as have I. I am very excited to see this in a movie. I can totally picture it. It will be the most moving film from a Christian book.

I love the way God’s heart is poured out on paper. That is what I try to do with my poetry. I will stay in touch and do all I can to spread the news of this book. I am on board.

Thanks so much, again, for more than I ever expected and may never get over. Hopefully!

God Bless You and Yours.

I laughed, I cried and I pondered how far off the mark I had been regarding God’s love and purpose for me. It was like the biggest, warmest hug that touched my very soul!
Thank you…I have put the word out for all to read “The Shack”…you cannot read it and not be changed.

An amazing book. It has deeply touched me and made me rethink my relationship with god, jesus, the holyspirit and people in general. I am from South Africa and I sincerely believe that this book will help heal this land and people from it,s past and current situation with respect to violent crime in all forms. I will be involved in the Missy Project and do my bit to get book and story out there.

Your book was given to me as a gift. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down until I was finished. What an inspiration!! God has really used YOU here. Today, I am still pondering the whole thing. Amazing!!
God bless you on your writings. I do pray He guides you to yet another book “hit”

I just finished the Shack today after camping at Wallowa Lake State park for the week-end! I brought it with me. I was told it was based on a true story? As I searched the web site I am not finding information that really answers that question. I still love the contents of this book I have cried off and on through the whole thing and it gives a renewed inspiration for a relationship with God (Papa), The Savior, and Sarayu (Holy ghost) Beautifully done. It has come in my hands at a time in my life that I needed renewed direction on my path with out a church. Been hurt deeply by a church with a lot of those enforced rules that create following by law but they say they are from God. You are shunned if you do not silently follow a unspoken dress code and other rules that you do not understand how they became a requirement in the first place. Many do not question these unspoken rules they just follow or there is not going to be further encouragement and/or fellowship. I plan on passing on this book to other wounded lambs that I have enjoyed a personal loving godly relationship with , with out our continued attendance to this church. It will help to heal some hurts that come and go for all of us through the years of spiritual abuse. This is a great book for me to recommend to my vast network of loved ones. I plan on getting more copies.

LeAnne Walling
Walla Walla, WA

The most amazing book - filled with truth even if it is fiction (well most but not all) - I was sad when I finished the book. My relationship with God made possible by Jesus Christ and living out of me by the Holy Spirit has validated my belief and trust in PaPa! I, too, have been through pain and wondering why me………hurtful relationships….but I know God is in control and He will work all things to my good and His glory. Thank you for sharing.

Incredible book! I am not much of a reader, but like most, my thirst for the truth kept me turning each page. I often close my eyes at night and see myself lying on the dock with jesus looking at the stars and feeling absolutely loved, complete & content. Isn’t that what we all really want? My relationship with Papa will never be the same. Praise God for that!

So, the question is…is this a parable or a true story?

Born with vision loss, I have always dodged the discomfort of reading, but I am reading THE Shack AGAIN, writing down quotes of Papa. For it is these which strike my heart as Gospel Truth of the Trinity as never experienced before. I want to pass it on. To heal, to understand, to gain knowledge and wisdom into the character of our Lord is never fiction.
I was blessed to experience Papa two weeks before a 3 day retreat on experiencing God’s love. Before the retreat I ended up spending the night at a cabin, waking up to the sun rising over Warden’s Pond I awakened to a new loving perspective; healing. The retreat only confirmed the deepest love of God which I previewed in your book–the Spiritual Leader for the weekend was a jovial, large black woman!! Forty-seven years of looking for answers which would piece together an arduous journey. The surprises of God are new every morning, the irony that He knew to reach me in one of less than 10 books I have read in my life.

God will find you, too, wherever you are, in this book which will individually find you and bless you with a new perspective!
Praise and Glory only to God!

Thank you for writing this book.

My brother was diagnosed with cancer, and is in prison. I took my mom to go see him. The first few days were rough. One evening, after a tear-filled visit, we went to go grab some stuff at the stoire. The Shack caught my eye. i picked it up, read the back, and put the book back down. I stood ther for a moment…I picked the book back up. i told my mom, “You know I am not a reader, why can’t I put this book back?” Thru the book that night, I cried, I laughed, I had many thoughts run thru my mind. My main question was,”Why, if God really is there, why did he givve my brother cancer?”
Now that I am done with the book, I now why. And as I talked about Jesus, Papa and Sarayu to my brother, thru the tears, everything became ok. We now know, my brothers life is in Papa’s hands, and we are all ok with it. He looks forward in fishing with Jesus, as trout is one of his favorite meals.
This book was a life changing event for me and my family. I don’t know how to ever repay you Paul. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This book stretched me, but the heady perfume of truth and glory surrounding it kept drawing me back. I discovered the Grace message 6 years ago through Bertie Brits, a healing evangelist from South Africa, and since then I ‘ve found it hard to get through a Christian book or sermon as there’s so little revelation of the fulfilment of the law and the magnificent love of the Trinity around. Bertie taught me that the bible isn’t about what we must do for God but what He has done for us - and that is the aroma I found in The Shack. Bless you and thank you. I trust that millions will get to read it.

I cried too!! Went through a whole box of tissue…Thank you so much for writing this wonderful, touching, inspiring, heartfelt and heartchanging book…

Amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and this story as well. Truth through fiction has always spoken to me in a much louder voice than anything else, and this explains perfectly why that is ok. Thanks!

Hey there

Yet again the truth blind sides us all by dismissing the facts of any case. HIS truth is not our truth, His thoughts are not our thoughts and small wonder His parable makes no sense in this society of “Reality Television” and game shows. We want so much reality we forget the only reality is God and that he knows more than anyone how to reach us and wants to reach us.

Lydia

I am English major. I have a master’s degree in English. I have taught in college for 10 semesters and have taught for 10 years at the Jr. High level. Needless to say, I have read a lot. THE SHACK is the best book I have ever encountered. The story is so full of the love of God that it is staggering. It gave me a whole new look at the way I had things neatly tucked away in my mind. It stretched me, and I feel closer to God than ever before. This is a book for our day. I hope it reaches many, helps heal many, and points everyone who comes into contact with it to our Lord and Savior Jesus. Thanks for writing this wonderful story.

I have bought the book for several friends and we have all been so blessed to have read it. Can anyone answer this ? Did Mack kill his Father? did the poison he put in the bottles lead to his fathers death? I never thought so, but I have several friends that feel this is the case. Any thoughts?

Jerry

Thank you for this book! In many ways it articulated perfectly what I knew in the corner of my mind yet could never quite say right. In other ways it clarified things and answered so many questions … I feel like He has been leading me to this book for some time. So glad to have found it!

Thanks.

Jerry, that is never answered in the book.

What a great book!! There is so much truth in this book that it doesn’t really matter if it’s “fiction” or not. Thanks so much for sharing this vision with us.

Jerry and Kent:

If the question isn’t answered it sure is implied. That is not the point of his writing though. He was trying to speak of forgivenness and generically how much forgivenness is required to really regain our peace especially in GOd.

Dear Paul,

This part was the killer - the kick in the gut of where I live when I’m honest with myself… and this is exactly what I need - the confrontation and accountability delivered with a calfskin-covered hammer. Thank you!
Cyn

“And I am thrilled, but at the same time grieved at my own darkness of heart. For even as we embrace, even as we thrill to the glory of the Truth of what we are sharing, I was still glad that he looked like a Galilean and not a…” “

Hi,
I live in Adelaide, Australia, and recently read ‘The Shack’. I have to admit, I read it as a true, factual account, and felt pretty silly when my husband broke the news to me that it was actually fiction! Then I began questioning whether the message would have impacted me as much if I knew it was fiction. Would I have been as deeply affected? Would it have challenged me so much? Reading this blog has really helped - the fact that it is fiction, revealing truths about God, means that it is even more impacting. I can experience God in the same way that Mack did. Thankyou

I finished reading “The Shack” today. I started it yesterday. I greatly enjoyed it. People have different views of God. Mine has always had a tendency to be that he is a harsh judgeing God that is waiting for me to slip up and do something wrong. I greatly appreciate the new found realization that God is truly love and does not sit in harsh judgement of me. He just wants me to live in him. Abundantly and in peace. I view things a little differently now. Thank you so much.

April

Hello!

I read your book because it was one that my Pastor recommended from the pulpit a few weeks back. I must tel you that usually when I read fiction I devour it like a hungry bear but not so with this book, this one I ate slowly like a fine meal at a fancy restaurant. Many times I had to put the book and simply let the ideas simmer.

Blue Like Jazz and a few other books have touched me deeply but this book, this little work of fiction has opened my heart to a new way of helping others see Jesus more clearly.

Thank you for that. It put words to a flavor I have been eating for years, to the sweetness of Papa and to the idea that God is the great I Am but that doesn’t mean that He can’t be a She if we need that kind of love at the moment.

I am planning on reading it to my husband (who does go to church too, but hates to read) and the giving it wings to a friend who would love it more than she knows.

Tears are welling in my eyes as I think of what to say about “The Shack” If only I was as prolific a writer as you! My mind and heart have been opened and enlightened to the goodness and love of our God.

I am bursting to share my good news with those around me. The Shack buzz has justed reached my neck of the woods and I’ll never be the same.

Thank you for this wonderful tool. Just told my 21 yr old son that I’d give him $50 to read it! I may just up the anti if he doesn’t read it soon.

May you be blessed abundantly!

well,im not sure what to say exactly, but here goes nothin! in my life i have rarely picked up a book and actually finished reading it. i guess that explains why i didnt make very good grades in high school. the book was awesome,i loved it!i found myself crying during some chapters,and laughing on the inside during others. i think keeping an open mind is key in reading this book. it surely seemed to open mine even more to wonders of god. it really made me think about alot of things and how i have viewed them in the past. god bless you!

I was given the book by a friend and she told me about the book briefly. I have a hard time reading about children being subjected to brutality. So the book sat. Soon after I overheard my pastor recommend it to someone. Then the next day on a Christian TV show it was recommended again, and the third time was the next day as it was being offered as a gift. I thought “okay, maybe I can read just a little.” I started on the chapter just past the hard part for me to handle. I began to read it for about an hour and I was deeply touched. The next day I read until I finished. This book actually gave me an answer to a prayer I had prayed recently. It was a beautiful read and one that I will ask my son and husband to read for themselves. One thing that I thought was particularly poignant the book showed how His ways are higher than our ways. We tend to believe things that are filtered through our eyes and we suffer the consequenses of believing our own lies. Thank you Jesus for reaching down to us…again.

I just read the Shack in two settings. Wow it was great, we laughed, cryed and enjoyed every moment of this book. I feel it was and is a God thing. Our pastors group are going to re-read and use it for a guide for talk at our meetings together this winter. thank you for writing this amazing book. We will spread the news of the book and of course the ultamate God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. There is just to much on my heart and mind right now to type it all here. Thanks again! Blessings,
JD

I purchased the book while grocery shopping - in search of something good to read. Wow! I found it! Theology sprinkled throughout a story is new to me but I find myself wanting to go back and reread parts for pondering. I plan to mention The Shack to a group at my church for reading and discussion. We are used to discussing theological ideas such as by Paul Tillich, etc. I think The Shack is a book the group can immediately understand, be moved and grow spiritually at the same time.

I can’t find the words that would aptly express my gratitude for making the Truths in The Shack available to everyone. I am a 40 year-old preacher’s kid who, while I didn’t think I had everything all figured out, certainly didn’t think that I needed to be changed as radically as this book changed me. I have been fellowshipping with The Triune God in a way that I have never before and it has filled me with Peace and Joy beyond measure (and I had already felt as if I was drinking from my saucer!) Wow! Can’t wait for the movie. In the meantime, I intend to tell everyone I know and love about this book. I may even do all of my Christmas shopping in one fell swoop with a couple-three cases of it. The only drawback to that is that I have wait 4 months to give them away!

“And I am thrilled, but at the same time grieved at my own darkness of heart. For even as we embrace, even as we thrill to the glory of the Truth of what we are sharing, I was still glad that he looked like a Galilean and not a…” “

Cyn,
Where is this in the book?

never mind. i just realized it’s from the good samaritan conversation above. sorry.

Thank you for writing this moving book. I grew up in a legalistic atmosphere and tend to be a perfectionist. Reading this book helps me understand how much my heavenly Father loves me. What is even better, or at least equal to that is that I don’t have to manipulate things, circumstances or people in order to be at peace. I can just trust my Papa to take care of those things and rest in His love!
PS: I love the parable above about Fiction, Truth, Reality and all that stuff…

“That’s what a parable does. It uses a story to tell the truth in a way that gets by your training and your defenses.” quoted from Paul’s above “Fiction, Truth,etc.”

On the other blog site about whether Mack is real or not, I was a touch critical about the “theology” of the book. What the above quote tells me is that I apparently had fairly strong but unrecognized “training and defenses” from earlier legalistic teachings.

Even though I finished reading the book about a week ago, I’m still processing it and appreciating it more and more. I think I would like to read it again. Guess I’ll have to buy my own copy, as I had read a friend’s.

Oh, and by the way, in making this into a movie, PLEASE don’t use big-name actors and actresses. I really don’t want to see Meryl Streep as Sarayu or Queen Latifah (or Oprah, God forbid) as God, or Dustin Hoffman as Jesus.

We need completely unknown actors/actresses that will really play the parts, not themselves.

What an incredible book! I really needed this. I lost my little boy some years ago and I can really relate to so much of this work. I truly hope you have another one in the making! I’m re-reading “The Shack” and recommending to all of my friends and family.

Your Friend,
Phillip “Pete” Starr

Need to know if anyone has compiled a list of scripture references that correspond with the words of Papa, Jesus and Sarayu?

I agree that you, Paul, have shared with us s great number remarkable insights into the character of the trinity. (Must be a “God thing.”)
Thank you for sharing this with all of us, and not just your children.

I have just gotten to the part where Mack breaks in front of Papa about Missy… And I couldn’t take it anymore: whether or not this was a complete work of fiction (based on “The Character of God”… whatever that is to the author, or better yet, whatever it is based on the author’s interpretation, or taught/learned-interpretation), or if it was “based on a true story” work of fiction (names, dates, and places (etc.) have been changed, elaborated, cut out…).

I really needed this to be a true story.

A true one. Not a “good one”.

This has affected me deeply. And I wished it for the better. But no. I now will read this story as a work of fiction.

Fiction.

I really wish it had not been so.

Paul, you rock! God has so anointed you to bring about facets of Him that we might not otherwise have seen. Just like the fractal in The Shack! Thank you and may God bless you and your family beyond your wildest imaginations for His glory! He has touched and opened up my heart and mind, through you!

I had to get out of bed at 1:00 am to finish reading The Shack. Wow, what an awesome work. There are so many hurting people around here that need to know the simple love of God, aka Papa. Thank you brother for being obedient to God, for writing this. Shalom…

As expected, there are many wonderful comments in regards to this book, but I wanted to also find thise few that had a “not as wonderful” perspective. Most seeming to be in regard to this story “not being true” or they feeling somewhat decieved in the forward/comments sections. Before reading this book My wife has read, my 2 daugthers in process of reading and many of my friends at our local body ( I dont always “jump’ to read or do as the crowd might). Before this a wonderful non-church friend had suggested reading “Illusions”, The adventures of a reluctant Messiah” by Richard Bach. It is fiction but I found it entertaining and in such a way kind of fit in along with Paul’s wrting. Totally different but thought-provoking just the same.

I have just finished reading the book, and I am overwelmed! Whether this really happened or not, I believe the miraculous way that worked in the story!

Tammy, Mar 7th…….

Your comment about leaving the book for the family in your neighborhood who had lost a son (as we have) touched both my husband and I. You may never hear about their reaction to The Shack, but I assure you that your thoughtfulness and gift of love is staight from God.

May God bless you and them!

Yeah, i guess it gets a bit much to keep up the blogging thing. I understand. I don’t post regularly on mine either - good in a way… simply because “life happens” - and i’m really glad about that.

It was so nice to find someone who knows my God too. You know what i mean - the God you know resembles the God I know. It makes sense i guess - a good parent is different in the eyes of each child. Thank you for expressing all of that in such a beautiful way. I guess what did it for me was the way you treat your children. Not that i know you, just in that you think of them and the generations to come as though they’ve already been. Nice.

It’s so easy to over look the here and now (which is past and future inclusive in Heaven) and live the here and now ‘time’ element of our lives. Thank you so much for allowing them to mess with and publish your thoughts. I don’t know if i would be that brave. But you are.

I hope you get back to some kind of ‘normal’ one day, sometimes these things can take years.

Notice things.

Always remember who you are and what that means. This book and every thing that’s come with it would be “full on” i think, but you have a life to live… i hope you remember to live it.

Hugs and thoughts to you from way over here in Aussie Land (I come from the land down under)… Suzi

I finished the book today! It’s fantastic! I’ve cried a lot of nights thinking what are we doing with the world? And thinking about a lot of stereotypes and religious rules I’d believed and obeyed during all of my life until now. We are always plenty of responsabilities and expectatives but poor of love and compassion!
This book really chance my mind and open my eyes for the real relationship with God and the human being race.
I agree it was a real fact, why not? Maybe, it’s time to stop judging the people and forget who kurt us.
I’m from Brazil and I’ll give this book as a gift for a lot of friends.
Thanks Willie.

Thanks Willie, What a story! I just finished reading The Shack. At a certain point, I couldn’t put it down. I have been broken-hearted over the election our country just went through. The result was a great disappointment to me, but all the back-biting and hateful talk in the name of politics was very wounding too. The abortion issue in the US is important to me, and I was having a hard time understanding why God let things come out as they did. The Shack did much to heal my heart and put me back in a love relationship with Papa, Jesus and Sarayu. Blessings to you and your readers, Beth Thornton in Texas

A friend bought me the ‘Shack’ and said i hope you are blesse like i was reading it, i’ve just finnished reading it, WOW!!!!! it has really blessed me, i know you say you didn’t expect it to get published, but God has other plans, and i am glad that it was published. i just want to bless others by getting them the book just like my friend did.
it doesn’t matter if its real or not, God has used this book to take me to another leavel with him.
Thank you Paul
God Bless you and your Family

I was hoping that the story really was a re-telling of Mack & Missy, and the circumstances leading to the shack. That way I could more fully believe. But the parable helped me understand how the fiction of the story doesn’t change the truth of God’s love. This book has stayed with me, and I keep thinking about how my own father told me when I was a girl that the most important thing to remember is not to judge people. It all goes back to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. I never realized how our judging others connects to that before now. I’m giving the book to my Dad for his birthday. Thank you!

While my son was home on leave from the Navy last week we were brousing the local Borders Bookstore and came across “The Shack”. “Have you red this?” he asked. “No,” I replay. “Dad! You have got to read this book. It is incredible!” So I bought a copy and am reading it. I am about two thirds of the way through. I love it. So much of that which which the book deals goes in hand with what I try to teach and preach to our congregation. It’s about relationships. First our relationships with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then about our relationships with others. Too often people get focused on labels such as good and evil, sin and obedience and they lose sight of what truly matters.

Thank you for this incredible book. It has impacted me in ways that I cannot express in words.

Pastor Bob

OMG THIS BOOK IS GREAT I FOUND IT HARD TO PUT IT DOWN,I TELL MY KIDS ALL THE TIE GOD COMES IN ALL FORMS THANK YOU FOR THIS BOOK

I read the book and thought the author did a great job of protraying God the way God says He is in the Bible, loving and kind and full of grace and mercy. Most people get a wrong view of God because of the Old Covenant. In that Covenant, God made a deal with Israel. If they would follow God, God would bless them. But if they didn’t follow God, God would send judgment upon them. When Israel didn’t follow God, God had no choice (because He had to keep His word and covenant) but to send terrible judgment on them. From that point on, mankind believes they have to perform or God would get them.

The Author does a wonderful job of protraying God as loving and wanting a relationship with us. However, I felt the author contradicted what he set out to accomplish by having God invite Mack to a disaster in the car accident. God will not invite someone to a terrible accident. Remember God is loving and kind and full of mercy and grace, not I will put you in a car accident so I can give you a great revelation of how wonderful I am. Great book, poor judgment on the accident, it contradicts God’s love.

The book has its good and not so good points. Despite its theological loopholes, I found it a refreshing piece of fiction with real redeeming qualities. For another great read check out A Step Into Deliverance by Toni Pugh. Unlike the shack, it is an scriptural autobiography about one man’s journey down the road to the deliverance ministry. A real page turner!

I enjoyed this book. My principal gave it as a gift to her Advisory Committee. I was intrigued by the references to formalized religion. This reflects some of my views about our Church hierarchy. Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu are exactly as I imagine them to be. Thank you for a remarkable book.

K. Hymel

My God is just like Mack’s God and so I loved The Shack! Thank you for writing this wonderful book, Mr. Young. I can only hope that everyone who reads it will be as touched like I was–never to be the same! My nephew had wanted me to read this book and know I know why–it moved him and he wanted to share that with me so that I can then share The Shack with someone else–I will definitely “Pass it on”!

My God is just like Mack’s God and so I loved The Shack! Thank you for writing this wonderful book, Mr. Young. I can only hope that everyone who reads it will be as touched like I was–never to be the same! My nephew had wanted me to read this book and now I know why–it moved him and he wanted to share that with me so that I can then share The Shack with someone else–I will definitely “Pass it on”!

You have changed my life. Every once in awhile our faith needs a boost. Well, this was it! Thank you. I can’t wait to pass this book on to everyone I know. I only wish I had found this book earlier and that I had been able to meet the author in Toronto. Praise God! We need more books like “The Shack”.

amei o livro, pq Deus é uma pessoa, e acho que o magnífico da vida é nos relacionarmos com Ele, sem regras, mas com amor

The way you made God so real in the way I always thought
he was. Things that I thought I had dealt with in my life as a young man kept coming back into my mind and though I knew I had been forgiven I found I could not get them out of my mind, until I read The Shack, I could not put it down which in its self was a miracle. I am going to pass copy on to as many as I possibly can. God Bless you for all you are doing, I will continue to paray for you and all your friends

you are an amazing writer! You are making things real to me that I have struggled with for most of my 50+ years. Please keep writing. I appreciate your humility and giving the glory to God. But I sure hope he keeps using you. You are a gift to many of us.

My sister sent me this book after Christmas. I read it and cried through most of it.
I had a hard upbringing, as many people do, but through even the worst of times I never doubted that I was special to Daddy. I always tried not to question why my life was so brutal and heart breaking I guess I had an unconscious knowledge that outside of my childhood my choices were made from my own free will and even when the outcome was horrendous Daddy had a plan and my footsteps were a part of that plan.
This book brought to my attention something that I have known along but never actually heard, (or read) another person acknowledge. When things go wrong in people’s lives many want to blame God, or turn from God saying, “how could a loving God allow this to happen?”
I don’t understand how people can blame God for all the evils that happen in the world when it so obvious that God had nothing to do with it. Bad things happen because people do bad things. We were given free will, to do as we please. This is what we want we would not be truly spiritually happy any other way. The problem lies with those who are not spiritual, those who have lost their way, those who have been twisted to the point that they have no concern for others, only themselves. These are the ones who cause evil things to happen, not God.
I love the fact that you incorporated my thoughts and beliefs into your wonderful book.
I have passed this book on to my children, and friends. Each person that I pass it to I make sure that I get it back so that I can pass it to another.
Thank you for sharing a story that was only intended for your children. I have to agree with the person that said that this was God’s story and you just wrote it down, and with that thought I guess it was written for His children.

Hello, I got this book from my father.
I started to read, and loved. as it is incredible what happened. This livro”A Cabin”is too good to reflect. Congratulations, a great success. Godspeed. Camila Santos - Brazil

It’s been almost 3 months since my oldest son Kelly was killed. I understand the Great Sadness. Feeling so alone in my grief after the holidays I began to read again, hoping to be able to focus my mind on something, actually on anything but the pain.

While shopping at Costo with my oldest grandchild(16)for Christmas. We browsed the book table and she suggested I read this book. The holidays pasted and more then ever I sunk into my grief. Finally I began the book. sometimes I could only read a page or two. Today I finished.

Thank you for writing this Jewel. It opened my mind and heart again to the Scared Trio. It answered many questions for me, why did it have to be him, how could this happen now, what will and should I do, when will I stop grieving and where do I look for answers. My heart has opened a crack and I am feeling forgiveness to those who made my son’s death more painful.

I am now trying to look at God’s hope for us and believe he is a loving Papa, not a vengeful God. With his love I will heal and have leaned form this book what life with Papa can be. Thank You from my depths for your gift.

I was touched beyond words by this book. This is a changing point in my life and the road to a more simple existence. I have been caught up in all of the rules and formality of religion and those things have put up such a barrier between myself and a personal relationship with god that I have completly stopped trying to persue him over the last few years. This simplifies everything without completely overwhelming me with expectations. I know that I can just simply start with prayer and the journey will begin. The journey started today, and it is an amazing feeling. Thank you so much for this book, I am sure I will revisit it often.

I was disappointed when it sank in that this is a work of fiction. In my struggle to be able to grasp onto something concrete, I keep having to remind myself that faith is what I have to stand on and as it grows it will be enough.

Thank you again,
A. Collins

Thanks Willie for your obedience in baring your soul to the world in The Shack and presenting us with such a refreshing view of Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu and their relationship with each other as well as us. God truly is magnificent and majestic at the same time so intimate with me. He is LOVE!

I’m thinking of ways to share your book with all my friends and connections. My Father-in-Law just arrived from the UK and has started to read it.

I don’t agree with your inference (or at least the way I read it) in the book about what God thinks of the organised church on earth. God very much loves His church even with all its current wrinkles. He turns up at meetings all over the world every day and loves on His kids that attend and serve in all capacities. I am sure you will find that Papa has an organised church connection prepared even for you Willie.

God bless you my friend for stepping out of the boat with Jesus on this one and all the best on the continuing journey with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu.

I loved this book, very much. I gave it to my sister and my daughter to read and all of us cried and we all loved it.It has really helped me to relate better to the Holy trinity. It was beautifully written and I really value what the message is all about. I’ve seen a few preachers on you tube putting it down, but they obviously don’t understand. I am very grateful for the book and I feel it ultimatley will help many people to draw closer in their relationship with God. Thank you so much for sharing it with the world.

I was hoping that this was a ‘true’ story and after I finished, I read the comments about it being a parabole and that the story is about truth and not about fact. I have now realized that it didn’t really matter if Mac or Willie really exist because we are all the Macs and Willies of the world as long as we recognize it and transcend ourselves into living in God.

Brilliant is all I can say and thank you for sharing your light.

I just finished this book. I really helped me get my head around the Trinity and how it works. Also, being an adult child of an alcoholic, It helped me to gain more understanding of my pain and my parents pain. It is really freeing to have a relationship with God the Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit that is a real relationship!
I didn’t know if I could get through the 1st part as that is my worst fear as it is most parents’ fear.
But, in spite of that I was really shocked at how it helped me come to terms with my fears as they are in this world.
Thank you Wm. Paul Young for sharing such a beautiful story.
Eileen

amei o livro
indico para todos
é um lindo encontro com Deus

This book touched my heart in ways I didn’t think was possible. It is a true blessing for someone to put into words what I have always known in my heart… God comes to us in a form that makes us comfortable talking with Him.
My little niece sees colors around people — of course, this book made me think of her and I know that what she sees is real. She’s too little to have made it up.
God uses so many things to let us know He is with us - He wants us to know Him. I loved the parent-child analogies, especially the part where Mack wants to take the place for his children so he does’t have to send them to hell. Makes the love of Jesus so very real. Thank you ~ !

Leann: I just read your post (having just finished The Shack) and my heart wants to tell you to find another church ASAP! There are so many wonderful fellowships where you are not judged, but only loved. For me, there is no way to grow in relationship (as Papa wants) except through sharing the Christian walk with others. Keep looking, and God bless you.

Did you drop a book at this family’s door and if so what have been the results? Outcome?

One of the best books I’ve read! Well done!!!

Stories have incredible power to instruct, challenge and heal. I think Jesus knew that, and I think that’s why He used stories so often.

I also think He used them as illustrations and that all those around Him understood they were stories. I do not see any examples where He went to great lengths to present a story as factual. He didn’t need to.

This is a good story with potential to challenge our preconceived notions and bring healing. This story has power. It’s a shame that power had to be cluttered by details that lead some to view it as something other than fiction (me included). I wish the story could just have been a good story. I wish I did not have to recommend it (if I do recommend it) with the disclaimer not to believe the forward.

(And I will admit to wishing I was not among handful who searched the internet for truth only to feel silly and have to forward web info to the folks I told the book was true! I feel stupid, but that’s just my own pride. Unfortunately, whether to believe the forward distracts me from what I think is the true meat and value of the book - the story. Why could it not just have been a story?)

“The Shack” was the best book I have ever read—it was beautiful, inspiring and I could not stop reading it! Thanks for reminding me of the beautiful love God has for us all.

There are no words to describe what this book has done for me. You are an amazing,but humble, writer,and I thank God that he gave you the ability to write his word when we(his children) need it most. This is exactly how I know God and heaven to be. You have put it into words for me. Its wonderful to find out that there are others who know also!
I wish I was financially able to buy “The Shack” by the box and hand them out to people because I want everyone to read it. I cant quit telling everyone about it. My heart is so full of love that I cry every time I talk or think about it. Its a good cry with a huge smile! Thank you for this amazing “true” story. My love goes out to you and your family. GOD(PAPA)IS LOVE!!!! Melynda:~)

I just finished The Shack and what a revelation! I found myself so envious of Mack wanting the experience for myself and then realized I can! As a child I was raised in a very traditional religous home and the concept of just having a chat with God or Papa would have been blasphemy. I have been freed from much of the religous junk in the last 20 years, but suddenly I have a deeper revelation of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and the kind of on-going relationship I can now experience. Thank You!

Because of his “I am”
We exist.
Because of his love
We rejoice.
Because of his joy
We can love.
Praise him.

Thank you for reminding us that living in an ever closer relationship with Papa, Jesus and the Spirit, and knowing fully that we can trust him, is all that matters.

You must be a really great janitor if writing is only your part time occupation - that was wonderful thank you

What I liked most is the “representation” you gave of Papa, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I’m delighted to realize that we don’t need to put a face or beard on any of them and freed from the desire to make them look like this or that. It certainly gets them out of a “box”. God is so much bigger than what we can imagine, more beautiful, more kind and more loving. I need to reread it again to experience the joy I felt at understanding the deep meaning of “what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”.

I loved the interactions with God as they are so much like my own prayer life. I have been in spiritual direction for many years and God has revealed himself to me in these ways often.

Your bio eludes to many losses, yet it does not tell us what they were. I think you are missing an opportunity to bring more people closer to this book by not revealing some of your own journey. If you can travel through what you have, and come this close to God, then those of us who are struggling with loss, can too.

Plus, I’m curious!

Dear Paul,
I haven’t even finished reading “The Shack”, but I am already telling everybody I know they must get the book! You describe God the way I have experienced and known Him, but didn’t have the words to express this knowledge. This is such a great way to introduce God to the uninitiated because it is positive and loving and pro God as opposed to negative, judgmental and anti everything. I love it! Are you by any chance planning to visit South Africa (you must!), and are there any study guides that one could use in a bible study?
Yours in Christ
Gabi

Dear Paul,

Thank you for explaining the Trinity. Many have tried … you succeeded. I love your writing. Thank you for sharing your gift to Chad, Nicholas, Andrew, Amy, Lexi, Matthew, and Kim with me, a stumbler who wants to “… believe Love rules.”

After closing the book, I began to judge someone and stopped. It is awesome to realize I don’t have to run the world … not even my world. I want a relationship with the Trinity. I will work on it.

Thank you (doesn’t seem adequate),
Carol

Hello everybody!

I just wanted to say I loved reading this book!
That is the best book I’ve ever read!
For many times I wanted to be Mack, just to feel his feelings, just to see God. But now I can feel Him inside of me in a better way. The way Lord is showed for us in the book is the way I have always seen Him.

Thanks

I really enjoyed this book, even if it was fiction and written as a parable to express several deep truths. I have to admit though I was kinda bummed it didn’t really happen, cuz I’ve had so many freaky experiences with God that I believe now anything is possible - seriously! I love it when He reveals Himself in BIG ways, even tho He’s always there even when we don’t feel Him or see Him operating behind the scenes! But, when I catch sight, even a glimpse, it’s great! I’ve had many opportunities where my eyes were touched, like in the book, but it was more like my mind - and i saw and thought and perceived things all coming together by the hand of God and witnessed extreme synchronicity in my life. I try to live without judgement and expectations today, they almost killed me in my past. I like the way the book explains how this perpetuates self-will and independence and fear and separates us from God. That’s been my experience. I’m glad you wrote this for your daughters and for the rest of us - it was a good read!

Oops! Let me rephrase… “NOTHING can separate me from the love of God…” However, I can choose to not acknowledge His prescence in my life and go along plotting my own selfish destiny and get really lost doing so! Even then, I’ve found He is with me waiting for me to ask for guidance and strength to do His will and accept and trust His plan for me at that moment in my life. Just wanted to reclarify!

Thank you !
The light you have brought into the world is a welcomed blessing
with love and peace

Many years ago part of the bedtime ritual was for me to read a story to my daughter. One evening I selected the story of Romulus and Remus: the Founding of Rome. After we had finished the story she asked (they had been studying in school fiction and non-fiction), “Is that a true story, or a made up story?” I smiled and cocked my head and replied,”It is more important than true or made up, it is mythic.” While this was not very satisfactory for an 8 year old, it lead to a discussion of stories that teach us things we might not understand any other way. I look at The Shack in much the same way. Thank you for a mythic story (parable).

Peace,
Clyde

Wow! This book is amazing! God must have really been doing powerful things inside you as you wrote this book. I cannot imagine the passion and joy you had as you wrote and worked on it with God’s help.

I missed the “fiction” part, and wholly believed it was a true story the whole time I was reading it. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what else God said to Mack because I received so much from Him each time He spoke to Mack. I had read “90 Minutes in Heaven” and heard the author speak, so I fully believed this was a very real book. I was disappointed to find it was not, but very joyous because of the messages I received through it from God.

Thanks for being obedient to God’s calling by writing such an eye-opening book, and then sharing it with all of us. Your talent is a blessing that you have shared with the readers. God bless you!

I can not begin to explain how this story has touched me. For the first time in my life, I finally understand the three in one. I believe that God talks to all of us in different ways and this was his way through Mr. Young to speak to me. I have been going through some doubtful times and had asked so many times why does God allow the horrible things that happen to people. I too have judged God and the experience that Mack had with Sophia was eye opening for me. What a gift Mr. Young has been given. Thank you for trusting God to let him speak through you. I am sure you have no idea how many lives you have touched or how many hearts you have opened up to a new relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. A truly amazing story that I want to share with all of my friends and family! God bless you!

Thank you for the clarification. I understand the parable thing. I am still being very human and wanted to believe word for word that it is exactly what Mack experienced. There are so many points to the parable that I will take as divinely inspired because you are a special and precious creation for all of us to experience. Thank you for your gift.

Keri

I just finish the book. I am not a reader, i hate reading.i am 55 years old, and i only finish reading 3 books in my adult life. since i was 18 years old. #1 the Bible, #2 same kind of deferns as me, and #3 book, The Shack that is it. of corse i do read the Bible almost every day.and the bible study books.my oldest daughter purchased the Shack book for her self but the helf way she stop reading, she had hard time with God being women form, so i ask her to give the book to me, so i start reading becuse you will be comming to my P.Land West church in June. I sure did cry and love the how you write about our relationship w God the Son and the Holy Spirit. I am glad that i did read it. may the Lord bless u in futer writing. Lov in Christ, Nan

“The Shack” was recommended to me by a friend. I’m 20 years old and I’m about to marry the love of my life. His family is very special. They have hurt me many times and some of the things they say and do make absolutely no sense to me. I was finding it hard to love someone that was so hurtful to me and to him. After reading “The Shack” I see that what they might say and do have no affect on me personally, but that if I give it over to God, he will take that pain and hurt apon himself and will allow me to love them. Its hard, and I’m still learning, but I am so blessed to have read this book..

P.S. For Mother’s Day I bought my future mother-in-law the book. And I’m about to go and buy it for my own mom.

If anything could’ve been a God-send and answer to my prayers, this book definitely was it. It has helped me in ways I didn’t think were possible. Thank you so much for writing this book, and thank you Lord, for giving someone the words to write something that could so affect me and others.

Can you tell me if you would consider writing this story in a simpler form, maybe for children to read themselves or adults with low literacy skills. I work with adults who have literacy difficulties and they just wouldn’t even know what a verb or a noun was, but they need to hear the message the book brings.

Dear Willie,

I also traveled the world and changed schools 14 times before graduating from high school in the U.S. Although very different from most, my life seems “normal” to me. I understand exactly what you mean about reaching the depths of pain–even screaming into the wind. I understand the depths one must reach in order to have the choice of either rejecting God, hope, and love or submitting–utterly–to Him. As I read it, I knew the story was a “real” story, in the sense that true pain and true redemption are real. I can’t imagine what incredible suffering and anguish you have been through in order to be able to write The Shack. I am grateful that you chose God, hope, and love.

Now I am married with four wonderful children and am deeply grateful for the endless grace of God. Not that I could actually have written this book, but I feel like I COULD have written it–it puts in words what I feel. Thank you for writing it. God bless you and your family.

I’m a brazilian fan of this book.My husband bought it for me without knowing anything about the plot.So I guess an angel might have guided his choice,for I really enjoyed readind it.Just like many others readers,I believe it is the case of a real-life story:it displays so much truth that it could hardly be labelled as fiction.

Dear Willie

Thank you so much for this book. I was raised as a strict Catholic, but as time went on I drifted away from the Church. I have raised six children and spent many hours with them and also alone in the woods next to our home and always told them how much closer I felt to God there. They have all become beautiful adults with children of their own. Thank you for the gift of understanding the Wholly Trinity at last and for understanding how I could feel so close with God in Nature. God bless.