Yesterday I spent my work day reading a book. Some of you may wonder why I'm able to read an entire book in the 8 hours I spent at work, but let me assure you that I still did my job and helped customers and smiled and the whole 9 yards. It was a cold rainy day in Kansas so NO ONE came to the bank. I had 10 customers the entire day. Anyways - I was thankful that earlier in the week one of my tellers recommended a book for me to read. He brought it for me to borrow and I started it yesterday morning around 7:15 and was finished with it by 2 pm.
The book is called
"The Shack" by William P. Young. Even if you never read - take the time to read this book. You will NOT be able to put it down. You will laugh, cry, and if you're anything like me, you will take many many deep sighs throughout the book. I can't say much about it without giving the entire book away, but among the hundreds of amazing quotes and incredible pages and pages of deep thoughts, I can honestly say I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be challenged and truly encouraged in your faith.
Here are just a few of my favorite passages throughout the book...Papa continued, "Lets use the example of friendship and how removing the element of life from a noun can drastically alter a relationship. 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 an expectancy of being together, of laughing and talking. That expectancy has no concrete definition; it is a live 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 such a way that meets my expectations. Our living friendship rapidly deteiorates 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.
"Or," noted Mack, "the responsibilties of a husband or father, or employee, or whatever. I get the picture. I would much rather live in expectancy."
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"What he did was wrong, and anger is the right response to something that is so wrong. But don't let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving him and removing your hands from around his neck."
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"Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."
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"Jesus?" Mack whispered as his voice choked. "I feel so lost."
A hand reached out and squeezed his, and didn't let go. "I know, Mack. But it's not true. I am with you and I'm not lost. I'm sorry it feels that way, but hear me clearly. You are not lost."
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"I am what some would say 'holy, and wholly other than you'. The problem is that so many people try to grasp some sense of who I am by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to the 9th degree, factoring in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn't much, and then call
that God. And while it may seem like a noble effort, the truth is that it falls pitifully short of who I really am. I'm not merely the best version of you that you can think of. I am far more above that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think."
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Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship.
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So there you have it. Check it out and buy the book.
http://www.theshackbook.com/
