empty praise

The Shack

January 24, 2008 at 11:48 pm Leave a comment

My dear friend Olivia recommended I read The Shack by William P. Young. (Thank you, Olivia.)

I’m deliberately reading it s l o w l y. It deserves time and thought, not just consumption like my morning toaster waffles. I am not even halfway through and find myself experiencing exactly what she said happened to her because it is profound. (Understatement.) I find myself thinking about what I read at various unexpected points throughout my day, pondering yet thankful for the reminder to let God redefine and renew who He is to me and what “relationship” looks like in my life. It is a much different experience than the normal “processing through the book I’m reading.” I can’t describe it yet, I just know it’s good.

For example, tonight at dinner, the three of us joined hands to pray and I couldn’t help but think of how this very scene was observed in the story. I found myself challenged to think about what my prayers of thankfulness or devotion look like. What am I modeling to my son as he so closely observes our habits of talking to Jesus, giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?

I will write more about this eventually. I can’t yet because I need to let it soak in. I need to have a few more moments where the Lord interrupts my day using imagery and words from an incredible story. I am so thankful for this. I hope that this renewal is contagious. I hope that if you too, read The Shack, that we can talk and ponder and be renewed together.

Entry filed under: Books, Faith, Life, Thoughts. Tags: "Christian living", "The Shack", Books, Life, prayer, Thoughts.