I just finished reading "The Shack" by William P. Young (Windblown Media, 2007). It is an unusual book. It has a "fantasy" feel to it, not unlike Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" or Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia." It is a very appealing book. It contains lighthearted dialogue between a man named MacKenzie (Mack) and the Trinity (as in Father, Son and Holy Spirit)! The theology worked out in this encounter is for the most part quite "right on." I am sure that not everyone would agree with me on this and that's okay. As a friend of mine used to say, "We all have our own heresies."

The book does many things well, but perhaps the most important part of what it does is giving voice to the problem of suffering in the world. Why do people, especially children, suffer? Why doesn't God intervene and stop evil from happening? These questions are as old as humanity and if we are not struggling with them then we are probably in denial. But the book is larger than this problem. The Shack gives us a picture of how much God loves us. I said to someone after reading the book that it made me fall in love with Jesus all over again! And in some ways it did. I have been recommending the book to lots of people.

The gospel lesson (Matthew 18:15 - 20) for this Sunday (September 7) is about Jesus' instructions for conflict in the church. They are uncomfortable words - words that challenge me to do better at "speaking the truth in love." Going to the person who hurts me or betrays me or gives me a hard time, and telling them how I feel is way more vulnerable than I want to be most of the time. Forgiving those same folks means looking deep inside myself. It means confronting my own dark desires and not just once; but over and over until they are exorcised from my heart.

In The Shack God helps Mack come to a point where he can forgive the man who murdered his young daughter, Missy. After he says the words, "I forgive you" over and over, he turns to God and says, "So is it all right if I'm still angry?" God does not hesitate with his answer, "Absolutely! What he did was terrible...But don't let the anger and pain and loss you feel prevent you from forgiving him and removing your hands from around his neck." God continues with this wisdom, "Son, you may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely." (The Shack, page 227)

Madeline L'Engle was fond of saying that love is not always that wonderful warm feeling rather love is a decision. Love is an act of the will, not of the emotions. Forgiveness is so much the same way. There are times when I don't want to even consider forgiving someone. My feelings are no where near forgiveness. At times like that it is best to just stop and turn around completely - face a new direction and make myself walk into forgiveness. The world is a hard place and life gets more complicated each day. Someone said to me many years ago, "Keep life simple...keep short accounts." Keep the emotional baggage down to a minimum by not letting those accounts of anger and unforgiveness get out of hand. Settle the accounts quickly - or as Jesus would say, "Go to your brother or sister and work it out." I will pray for you in this challenge if you will pray for me.