The Shack
William P. Young
256 pages (paperback)

Young explores the relationship of Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit in three characters that live with one another and work together in harmony. While Young's portrayal of each character walks a line between insightful characterization and cliché personification, he touches on unique elements of faith. He describes the different facets of God, which compose a being of many gifts — the epitome of "relationship," sharing love and enthusiasm and compassion and interest with each other, a relationship that God wants us to have with one another and in return with God. Taken a step further, Young describes God's feelings about humans as being "especially fond of" each of us, which has a familiar tone and comforting message.

The most powerful piece of the novel, for me, is Young's approach to forgiveness. Through Mack, Young articulates that it is okay still to be angry while we begin to forgive someone else, and this anger may not fade for a long time. He suggests as well that simply stating "I forgive you" out loud, sometimes over and over again, can helps us take steps toward believing it and meaning it. And finally, Young emphasizes that forgiveness is not necessarily for the redemption of the other person - redemption is not our job, it's God's — but for our own healing.

Some of Young's theology leans on the side of conservative, yet many of his ideas are novel in their expression. He addresses broad concepts that are applicable to the lives and journeys of college students and young adults who are searching for ways to make sense of tragedy and to comprehend the bigger picture of God and the manner in which God lives in relationship and love.