Last night I finished reading a book, The Shack. It was written by William P. Young for his six children. I had to check the title page to make sure it was a novel. The beginning reads just like a true story and had me fully engaged and flipping pages quickly. It does move into metaphor about a third of the way through. It is often unsettling and at times took my breath away. The themes of pain, healing, forgiveness and love center around conversations-profound questions and answers. I just sent the author an email-something I've never done. One of the things I said was that if Christians used their God given creativity it would change the world. Holy imagination would transform the church and its people. At any rate it certainly has caused me to wonder why it is so difficult for me to access the gifts of stories etc. that I know God has so freely given me. I think one of the things touched on in the story of The Shack is a willingness to seek healing for painful experiences and memories. We just don't want "to go there". When I think of the times that God has most profoundly touched my heart it was exactly then. But of course we "get better" and want to move on to things that "don't hurt". This is our shared humanity and why we need each other to "spark us to love and good works".
Posted by Aloyce.
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