The Shack

Chapter 5

Summary Notes:

· Mack keeps his decision to visit the shack from Nan to protect her (p68).

· Mack knows he can’t lie to his friend, Willie, and shows him the note (p70).

· Mack ready for revenge, but thinking the note might be from God (p71).

· Maybe God is judging Mack for what he did to his own dad (p71).

· Mack pictures God as Gandalf (p73).

· Mack knows he’s driving right into the center of his pain (p74).

· Mack ready to get some things off his chest, respectfully of course (p77).

· The cabin is cold and empty. Mack screams his anger to God (p78).

· Mack decides it’s the last time he will go looking for God (p80).

· God visits the shack. Mack meets Papa, a large black woman (82).

· Papa encourages Mack to let it all out (p83).

· Papa takes the gun from Mack, holding it as if it was contaminated (p84). (Exodus 15:3)

· Mack also meets Sarayu, an Asian woman…the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, a rugged Hebrew man.

· All three proclaim to be God in unison (p87). (Matt 28:19)

Splinters from “Shaq:”

1. Why do men find it easier to confide to friends than to their woman?

2. How do you picture God?

3. Have you ever given up on God?

4. Do you feel like you can just let it all out with God and get things off your chest? Does it have to be “respectfully?”

5. Can you wrap your mind around the Trinity?