The Shack- Elissa Wilcox

“While Mack's relationship with God is wide, Nan's is deep.” The Shack has been a highly controversial book in the Christian world because of the depiction of God that it presents to the reader. The reader is greeted through Mack with a huge African American woman named Papa. Papa is the intimate name that Nan (Mack’s wife) uses for God. This quote is referring to the fact that although Mack had a relationship with God was shallow; it was surface level and not as intimate as Nan’s relationship with Papa. He observes that he could never call God “Papa” the same way that Nan did because he felt that he was not connected to Him enough. Gaining a deeper understanding of God is important, understanding that there is a way to connect intimately with the great creator is important to know and not be overwhelmed by. Although I don’t think it is possible (or good) to not be overwhelmed by the greatness that is God at some point, it should not stop you from understanding him on a more human level as well. What does it really mean to have a deep relationship with God?