The Shack Experience (Book One Project)

Those who have read The Shack by William Young know that this so-called “shack” is a place filled with regret and sorrow as well as revival through the Lord. Mackenzie, a guilt stricken father of what once was five children but is now only four, is lead on a journey that no human could ever begin to imagine, a journey to meet God.

His life began crashing down around him when he left with his three youngest children for a week of camping fun, but little did he know this fun would quickly turn into a real-life nightmare. As Mackenzie tries to give breath to his unconscious son after a nasty canoeing accident, his beloved Missy is snatched from their camping site where she is then brought to an old shack a few miles away and brutally murdered. Mackenzie is filled with deep guilt and anguish so he begins to blame God. He can’t determine why God would have something this traumatic happen to him, to his family. He had always been nothing but an avid follower of the Lord so how could he take something so precious and genuine away from him?

A few years, later after Mackenzie has lost touch with his once blooming relationship with God, he returns to that horrid shack, not by his own choice but because he felt obligated. He received a letter that said, “Mackenzie, It’s been a while. I’ve missed you. I’ll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together. –Papa” (Young 16). Mackenzie believed that this letter could only have two possible authors, the murderer of his daughter or God. So naturally, Mackenzie leaves for a weekend trip to “the shack” where he is looking to avenge his daughter’s death.

After a long struggle to force himself into the place that is the kindle of his Great Sadness, he finds that no one is there awaiting his arrival. At this point, Mackenzie is filled with so many emotions that he can’t control himself. He screams at God asking him how he could let his baby be killed. He throws and breaks chairs and tables that cluster the room. He cries, “I hate you!” (Young 78). After much screaming at God, he begins to apologize to his daughter. He tells her, “Missy, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry I couldn’t find you,” (Young 78). It is then that the shack begins to transform right in front of his eyes to become an exquisite log cabin. The land surrounding the cabin that not long ago was an icy, snowy mess melts and becomes the epitome of springtime; flowers thriving, sun shining, and grass getting greener by the second. It is here that Mackenzie meets God and begins to learn of why these disturbing events happened to him.

For readers, this book opens up a barrel of new possibilities. They are enlightened by what they have experienced through the character Mackenzie and begin to have hope for their future and their relationship with God. It is from these experiences that create “The Shack”, an actual building, for lost children of God to find themselves and the being greater than themselves. “The Shack” will serve two purposes: a place for men and women to confront their greatest sadness and a place for them to be educated with the role that God plays is this sadness and in their life as a whole. “The Shack” will function as a retreat center for these troubled souls and will guide them on their lifetime journey with God.

Now, The Shack already has a large fan base, therefore, many people will be throwing themselves at this retreat center to receive similar experiences as that of Mackenzie in the novel. There must be a limit as to who can participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. In order to be accepted into the retreat center, friends and/or family members must write a letter to the heads of “The Shack”. This letter must state why this certain person desperately needs the experience of “The Shack” and the guidance of the leaders there. The center heads will then decide which applicants need “The Shack Experience” the most. These select few will receive a letter in the mail similar to that of which Mackenzie received from God saying, “(Whomever), It’s been a while. I’ve missed you. I’ll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together. –Papa” (Young 16). The family member or friend who wrote to the shack will be mailed the information as to when and where their loved ones experience will take place, serving as a mentor for the applicant.

Upon arriving at “The Shack”, their mentor will leave them in the capable hands of the staff present. The applicant will be introduced to the actual shack where they will spend time talking and confronting their sadness with the counselor present or on their own if they so choose. This is the point where they can lay it all out and get what is on their chest off of it just like Mackenzie did when shouting, “Why? Why did you let this happen? Of all the places to meet you—why here? Wasn’t it enough to kill my baby? Do you have to toy with me too?...Well, I’m here, God. And you? You’re nowhere to be found!”

After they are done admitting to their hurt and suffering, they will then be taken to the revival portion of the experience, the almighty “Log God Cabin”. In the book, the once old, beat-up shack turns into a beautiful log cabin, the home of God, “The dilapidated shack had been replaced by a sturdy and beautiful constructed log cabin…It was built out of hand-peeled full-length logs, every one scribed for a perfect fit,” (Young 81). This cabin will be the place where they can feel God’s love and learn of his ways. They will gain understanding of why God chooses to have certain things happen to certain people which will then help their feelings towards and their relationship with God. This is the point where they can get into deep thought over scripture and what it means, just like Mackenzie did.

There will only be two applicants at the retreat center at a time, on in the shack and one in the cabin. This assures that they will feel more comfortable and open about their feelings while still giving “The Shack Experience” to as many people as possible throughout the year. After this person has finished amending their relationship with The Father, they will be sent home with their mentor who will be instructed to pick them up. Once home, it is harder to maintain the relationship developed so it is the responsibility of them and their mentor to keep them on track with the goals that they sent while they were at “The Shack”.

This idea will broaden the followers of The Shack because the mentors who have heard of the “The Shack Experience” have most likely read the book, they will then spread this book and its ideas to their loved ones who go on the journey and those who they tell about the journey that their loved one has been on. More people will want and end up reading The Shack to fully understand and develop the ideas that are found in this inspirational novel. This idea will not only encourage new readers and followers but it will also encourage old readers to spread the word of The Shack and “The Shack Experience”.