It seems that each time I sit down with this book my perception of GOD and love change. If you do not own a copy of The Shack by Paul Young I HIGHLY suggest you pick one up.
"Each choice ripples out through time and relationships, bouncing off of other choices. And out of what seems to be a huge mess, Papa weaves a magnificent tapestry. Only Papa can work all this out, and she does it with grace. (Papa is GOD the FATHER)" I read those words and savored the picture of life. How beautiful each piece of art is within the Earth. How intentional...what if most of GOD's answers could be found by watching HIS art. The times when I try and provide logic as an explanation to something I cannot understand I usually feel like I am accepting an insufficient bite. "Because you are so lost and independent you bring to her (GOD) many complications, and as a result you find even her simplicity profound."
"It's simple, Mack. It's all about relationships and simply sharing life. What we are doing right now (laying on their backs on a dock soaking up the sun with their bare feet in the water)-just doing this-and being open and available to others around us. My church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can't built it. It's my job and I'm actually pretty good at it" "As well-intentioned as it might be, you know that religious machinery can chew up people!" "I don't create institutions-never have, never will." How often I think following the words on a projector is more simple than watching HIS creation and giving HIM credit for the universe and my tiny person within it all. Sometimes sitting in the sunlight watching coy fish, or laying and watching clouds is more soothing than amazing vocals and beautiful words because at the time it encompasses more of being with GOD. And isn't that all he asks for? To be.
"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 I can...It is extremely hard to rescue someone unless they are willing to trust you." It's scary to just be with GOD when everyone else around is freaking out. I guess it's best to see GOD with closed eyes so it's only HIS glory shinning around and HIS love in the sun beams.
"I am not too big on religion, JESUS said a little sarcastically, and not very fond of politics or economics either...and why should I be? They are a man-created trinity of terrors that ravages the earth and deceives those I care about. What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human feel that is not related to one of those three?" How uncanny that these three things seem to have eaten the world lately.
"All I want from you is to trust me with what little you can, and grow in loving people around you with the same love I share with you. It's not your job to change them, or to convince them. You are free to love without an agenda." Why is it that I only feel this way on vacation..? Kind of ironic that I take my deepest breathes and stand still the longest on vacation as well.
"Remember the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda...Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats and Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my beloved. (JESUS speaking)"
"Falsehood has an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being." ~Jean Jacques Rousseau
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