"The Shack" SPOILER ALERT!

If you haven't read the book, "The Shack" you need to. I read it just recently and let me tell you, God was kicking my butt the whole time.

I am going to give away 3 of the main details/events in this book, so if you do not want to have a spoiled book, do NOT read what I am about to write. I will let you know when the spoiling is over, if you choose to continue to read on.

The book starts out with a little girl who was kidnapped, and presumed to be murdered. They never found her body, nor the killer. The father of this little girl blames God for it and is super mad at God for allowing bad things like this to happen. He, in short, does not forgive himself, God, and obviously, the murderer. Well, God calls him to the shack, in which they found evidence of his daughter's murder through much blood and her dress lying on the floor. The father is beside himself, but chooses to go. When he gets there, he finds a much different scene.

He meets God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. This is where his journey begins. The Holy Spirit shows him a garden thats a huge mess and needs work done. He asks the father to help him weed out the nasties. So, the father does. After all this he finds out that he was not only weeding a garden, but weeding out the nasties in himself.

Jesus now takes the father across the river to a cave where it is judgement day. The father thinks he is being judged, which means he must have died! WELL, the father is the one who is doing the judging. The helper inside the cave asks the father to condemn two of his other children to Hell while the other one may go on to Heaven. The father tells the helper he cannot do this. He cannot choose to send any one of his children to Hell, because no matter what they have done, he loves them and would never wish that upon them. The helper then tells him, "This is who God is. He cannot bear to send even ONE of His children to Hell, but when they have gone against who He is, they are turned away." Because he understood this type of love from God, he was allowed to see his little girl, through a waterfall, whom was murdered that fateful day. She knew her daddy was there and was even able to choose how he saw her.

And finally, God takes the father on a two mile hike to a different cave. Along the way there are random stones marked with a red arc. When the father begins to ask about the markings, God turns, and walks away. Finally, they reached the outside of the cave, which also had a large arc marked on it. God told the father he was only allowed to enter if he truly forgave. The father knew right away who He was talking about. The murderer. When he reached total forgiveness, the Lord let him into the cave where he found the remains of his daughter, and was able to have a proper buriel for her.

SPOILER OVER
The father forgave without confrontation. He loved without even having an ounce in him at the beginning. Amazing what the Lord can do when you really want and allow Him to do what He is best at. These three instances tore me apart. I cried harder than I ever have at a book. I knew God was speaking to me REPEATEDLY. Numerous accounts here people. Not just through this book, but it was the last straw. I broke down. I've been living a situation since June and have found myself understanding what HATE truly is. Understanding that forgiveness is the HARDEST thing to give to someone who has hurt you beyond belief. And most of all, the thought of evening LOVING them, its just ridiculous! No one deserves that after what our little family went through. NO ONE!

Guys, this is hypocritical of me, but if you have anything against anyone, just as the Bible says, Leave your gift at the alter, go and find him and forgive him. I don't want to forgive this person, but I know in time and through prayer and the help of others, I will get there.

On a happier note, only 11 days until Christmas!