The Shack-WM Paul Young

I have read many books in my life but none quite like The Shack, which not only shook the core beliefs or ideals of the main character Mackenzie Allen Phillips also known as "Mack", but quite honestly my own. The Shack starts pre-tragedy where Mack takes his three children on a camping trip, on this camping trip certain events lead to the abduction of his youngest daughter Missy by the "Little LadyKiller". Four years later Mack has sunken into what he describes as "The Great Sadness", in this time he finds a letter in his post box from "Papa", a name that his wife uses to refer to God, inviting him to come to the Shack. The Shack is of great significance as this is where they found his daughters bloodied clothing.  He immediately assumes that this letter must come from the Little LadyKiller, however at the same time cannot understand how the serial killer would know to sign it with the words "Papa". Without giving away too many details of the book, I will conclude with the following details: Mack decides to go to The Shack, to see what or whom he shall find, and to his surprise he does not find the serial killer he finds God. The only surprising thing is. . . God is a Woman!. I must be honest it was at this point that I had the same reaction as the main character, every possible idea that I had been socialized into believing came crashing down around me. The funnier thing is, I started introspecting, dissecting every possible memory from Sunday school trying to pin point where I may have heard the words that God was in actual fact a man therefore, why could I not fathom the possibilities of him? being a woman? That dear readers is the power of socialization,  and I have to reiterate that I did not have a problem with God being portrayed as a woman, rather I found it quite profound how hard it was to rearrange all these pieces in my brain to fully connect with the story, to personify God and to challenge my ideals. I am glad that I read this and that I challenged my beliefs because The Shack is a powerful book, so powerful and so necessary. The author writes beautifully so much so that I have started reading 'Lies we believe about GOD'. I am only a few chapters in but hooked on every word.