Concluding Conversation around "The Shack"

August 31 Concluding Conversations in and about The Shack
Chapter 15 A Festival of Friends

Chapter 15 begins with a cascade of colors to describe the uniqueness of each person and each relationship. Why does the author use the symbolism of colors? What do they mean and how does this image move us forward in understanding God and each other? What do you make of Saranyu opening Mack’s eyes in light of the Gospel of Matthew (13:14-17) quoting Isaiah 6:9-10: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn- and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” It is an interesting passage to read in light of Sarayu’s statement “Just imagine, Mackenzie, if I had touched not only your eyes, but also your tongue and nose and ears.” (page 217)

Think about Jesus appearance on page 216 in light of the song “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue in heaven shall confess him now.”

Chapter 16 A Morning of Sorrows

Did you notice how Papa’s response to Mack’s desire to do everything the same from worship to eating is “Nothing is ritual”. What is the author trying to tell us with this exchange?

Why was Papa able to appear to Mack as a father in this chapter?

Page 222 is such a different exchange between Mack and Papa than before. Papa says: “Could I have prevented what happened to Missy? The answer is yes …you cannot possibly understand now. At this point all I have to offer you as an answer is my love and goodness, and my relationship with you. I did not purpose Missy’s death, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use it for good”. And Mack responds “You’re right. I don’t grasp it very well. I think I see a glimpse for a second and then all the longing and loss that I feel seems to rise up and tell me that what I thought I saw just couldn’t be true. But I do trust you…Papa I do trust you.” Has God changed? How has Mack’s understanding of God changed? How would Mack answer the question “Do you really trust me…do you really think I’m good” from earlier in the story?

What do you think about the discussion of forgiveness? “Forgiveness is for you the forgiver, to release you from something that will eat you alive; that will destroy your joy and your ability to love fully and openly. So you think this man cares about the pain and torment you have gone through? If anything, he feeds on that knowledge…forgiveness in no way requires you to trust the one your forgive…forgiveness does not excuse anything…but don’t let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving him and removing your hands from around is neck.” (page 225-227)

What about the healing power of tears? Remember when Papa said to Mack on the beginning of the trip “You will need a father today”. What do you think about the fact that even with God by his side Mack had to go through the incredible pain of discovering his little girl’s body? What comfort was there in God’s presence for Mack?

Chapter 17 Choices of the Heart

What do you think of the choice that God gave Mack to stay with the Triune God and with Missy or to go back to be with Nan and the children? Do you hear the words of the apostle Paul in the choice “Whether I live or whether I die I am the Lord’s.” Why do you suppose Mack chose to go back? Was he really going “back” or was he finally going forward.

What did you think of the meal that Mack ate with God on page 236 “”Without any ritual, without any ceremony, they savored the warm bread and shared the wine and laughed about the stranger moments of the weekend.” How did this communion meal punctuate the weekend together and what does this scene say to you about the meaning of communion?

Chapter 18 Outbound Ripples

Three words are pivotal in this chapter: the words Mack speaks to Willie from God “Tell Willie that I’m especially fond of him”; the word Mack tells Kate “It wasn’t your fault. Nobody blames you for what happened”; and the words Nan says to Mack “I believe you”. Why are these words so pivotal and emotional and what do they tell us about our faith walk with God and each other?
After Words

What do you think about the transformation of Mack? “He’s a human being that continues through a process of change like the rest of us. Only he welcomes it while I tend to resist it. I have noticed that he loves larger than most, is quick to forgive, and even quicker to ask for forgiveness. The transformations in him have causes quite a ripple through his community of relationships- and not all of them easy. But I have to tell you I’ve never been around an adult who lives life with such simplicity and joy. Somehow he has become a child again. ” (page 247) What does this say in light of scriptures calling: “Unless we become like little children we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.”

What do you think about the revolution Mack hopes for: “that revolves around Jesus and what he did for us all and what he continues to do in anyone who has a hunger for reconciliation and a place to call home.” (page 248) Think about this in light of the beatitude “Blessed or those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
Read the last Trinitarian ascription again: “And one day, when all is revealed, every one of us will bow our knee and confess in the power of Sarayu that Jesus is Lord of all Creation, to the glory of Papa.” (page 248) How do those words speak to you differently than before you had read this book?