The Shack - Part 2

Psalm 147: 10-11
"His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love."

One of the things that God says numerous times in The Shack is, "I am especially fond of ________." God is especially fond of Mack the protagonist. But also especially fond of many others mentioned in the novel.

Most of us can imagine certain humans that we believe God might be especially fond of. If you're like me they would be people like Mother Teresa or Billy Graham or others who seem to have something extraordinary to offer Him. The striking thing in The Shack is that God is fond of those who have nothing especially to offer. Mack's a nice guy, but certainly not extraordinary from a human perspective. In fact, he's a mess.

The Lectionary has focused on the final 5 Psalms for the last couple of months. Every morning one of them is the morning Psalm. The PCUSA web site (apparently receiving some complaints about it) has even offered an alternative morning Psalm reading for those who are sick of reading these same 5 Psalms over and over. I figure that maybe God has something to say to me in those 5 Psalms that I need to hear over and over to get... Psalm 147 has become one of my favorite recently. I have indeed read it lots and lots lately. The first half of it was in today's Lectionary and the last half will be in tomorrows. I have some favorite verses in both halves. I especially like the verses that began this post.

I like to say that I know that God loves us unconditionally. Though I give an intellectual assent to it, however, I usually feel I still should have something to offer to God. That maybe I could please Him more by my good behavior or nice thoughts, or by some personal excellence or whatever. But the truth is that God is especially fond of me. Regardless of my strength or speed or anything else that I foolishly believe I have to offer... He's especially fond of you too.

Another of the wonderful things about The Shack is that it makes clear that what God desires is intimate fellowship with you and me. Not because we have anything that God needs, but because he is especially fond of us.

Romans 11:33-36 "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?'
'Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. "