I first became aware of The Shack by the buzz it was creating in my church. The same people who are first to read what’s new, like The Prayer of Jabez a few years earlier, The Purpose Driven Life, Jesus Calling and so forth, were talking about it. Some were telling others to not read it because of the imagery. Call me curious, I waited until it showed up at Costco, then I purchased a copy. I wasn’t too far into it when I realized two things: Some people were not going to like it with a passion, and others, like me, were going to be touched by its understanding of damaged emotions in people who were wounded by  “spiritual” people, or wounded by loss, disappointment with God, and were, consequently, angry with God or resentful.

Like I always do, I researched the author. I read his quotes, his beliefs, his history, his foraging into new territory and leaving the past behind for life-altering, life-giving opportunities. He’d walked the uneven journey, and it wasn’t all pretty. Learning his personal history made the book make all the more sense to me. I knew I would jump at the chance if ever given the opportunity to meet Wm. Paul Young, author of The Shack.

Like my first impression, the reality is that controversy swirls around W. P. Young and his writings. I “got” his message and wished more in the faith community would stop trying to make the book into something it isn’t and accept it as a loving gift to people who will benefit from it. This sensitivity of mine to these very same issues contributed to my intrigue with a writer who wasn’t afraid to put it out there anyways. We part company in some of our conclusions about the spiritual, but we share the same lens about other matters of great importance, like compassion and God’s love.

Unconventional Christians, those who march to their own drummer–and there have been many–fascinate me. Maybe because I are one. I have written a review for Young’s Cross Roads book here and quote from the book here. I wanted to meet him for several reasons.

• We are the same age (!).
• He is brave, courageous, willing to write what’s in his heart.
• He is an overcomer with the scars to prove it.
• We both love Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• He thinks for himself.
• He cares about the hurting person.
• He is a top-notch storyteller.

Those who know me well know that I have some of these same qualities. It is my belief that The Shack is one of those books that God propelled forward because of its message of hope, healing, and love. In the way Young weaved the story, I sensed God using its words to reach down to the wounded person–lost and alone, without hope and understanding–as a touchstone to meet and speak truth in love. It shows how God’s life connects with human life as an antidote to pain and suffering. A person who’s been there, been wounded deeply, is more likely to understand the message he imparts. Through his message, Young exposes the tangled thinking that comes with the pain of what seems, or is, unjust and a person’s bent toward self-justifying and self-focus.

The Jesus Center in Chico, California, invited Wm. Paul Young as its luncheon fundraiser speaker. As a supporter, I was emailed months before the event. I began to pray that I would get to have a few words with W. P. Young at the event and without interruption. What’s the chance of that? He spoke before the meal was served. He made a few jokes and then moved on into the subject of love and shared how The Shack has reached the incarcerated and has ministered to their spiritual needs, and helped them take personal inventory (like we all need to do).. “Papa,” Father God, often comes up. “Does Papa really love me?” he is asked. “Yes, he does love you,” he responds along with a hug — as tears flow — and another heart mends as love is received.

My favorite moment of the talk was when he said the following. He is asked, “If he could go back and do it over again, would he?” “Yes,” he says, “I would. I would undo all the hurt I’ve caused.” It was a statement about himself and the pain he had caused; it was not about others or the pain they had caused him. He said it softly, consideringly, truthfully. I will remember it because of its depth of meaning to me in my spiritual walk.

Afterwards, a line formed of people wanting to have their books signed by him. I hadn’t thought to bring one of my books but thought to myself, it’s now or never. Finally, it was my turn. So I said, “No book!” as I approached him, and he grinned. I shared my appreciation of him, his ministry and message, and then told him I had viewed a discussion between him and Richard Rohr. Briefly we spoke about it, and he told me they did a series together about the Trinity.

Young’s eyes were kind, bright, intelligent, happy, and sincere. I could have talked with him for hours because he appears to speak without pretense. I sensed he would understand some of my journey, which cares more about what God thinks than people’s opinions. Just saying.

I wanted to ask W. P. Young a couple questions about how he came to be his own person, how he came to see God as a loving God, how he found his own voice, but that didn’t happen. I had no opportunity. I am on a similar journey and thought he could shed light on some of it. He is routinely criticized and I, too, was criticized by some for attending this event. I think he accepts it as part of being faithful to his calling. In Wm. Paul Young I see a person who loves God and is willing to take the heat for love of others.

I am glad I got to meet Wm. Paul Young. Maybe at a later date I will get to have that conversation. I know we won’t agree on everything or have a seamless theology, but we will agree on the message of what it is all about, the love of God for all the people of the world, grace, and freedom. I am glad he is sharing hope with a world that has so little of it.

Next Post will be about a new devotional for the whole family written by a first time author.