I recently finished The Shack by William P. Young. It was evidently controversial when it first came out, but when don’t USAmerican Christians jump at the chance to be offended by something? That, though, is another story, for another time.
Overall, I enjoyed The Shack and here are some of my favourite lines:
In a world of talkers, Mack was a thinker and a doer.
– p. 9
(W)hen he does talk, it isn’t that they stop liking him – rather, they are not quite so satisfied with themselves.
– p.9
I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing.
– p.11
(G)race rarely makes sense for those looking in from the outside.
– p.11
Something in the heart of most humans beings simply cannot abide pain inflicted on the innocent, especially children. Even broken men serving in the worst correctional facilities will often first take out their own rage on those who have caused suffering to children.
– p.59
Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to power is to choose to limit oneself – to serve. Humans often do this – in touching the infirm and sick, in serving the ones whose minds have left to wander, in relationship to the poor, in loving the very old and the very young, or even in caring for the other who has assumed a position of power over them.
– p.106
When you choose independence over relationship, you become a danger to each other. Others become objects to be manipulated or managed for your own happiness. Authority, as you think of it, is merely the excuse the strong use to make others conform to what they want.
– p.123
(Religion, politics, and economics) are tools that many use to prop up their illusions of security and control. People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures and ideologies, are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn’t any. It’s all false! Systems cannot provide you security, only (God) can!
– p.179
Rules cannot bring freedom; they only have the power to accuse.
– p.203
Forgiveness is first for you, the forgiver.
– p.225
Turkey Alwan Travels