The Shack

During our discussion time in the cafeteria, I brought the book 'The Shack' by Paul Young. One thing stuck out at me already while reading it. It was a tale centered on a princess, the only child left to her aging father. "The chief loved his daughter dearly and carefully picked out a husband for her, a young warrior chief of the Clatsop tribe, whom he knew she loved. The two tribes came together to celebrate the days of the wedding feast, but fefore it could begin, a terrible sickness began to spread among the men, killing many.

The medicine man among them spoke of how his own father, when aged and near death, had foretold of a terrible sickness that would kill their men, an illness that could be stopped only if a pure and innocent daughter of a chief would willingly give up her life for her people. In order to fulfill the prophecy, she must climb to the cliff above the Big River and jump off it.

A dozen young women were brought before the council. But they could not ask for such a precious sacrifice, especially for a legend they weren't sure was true.

But the disease continued to spread among the men and eventually the young warrior chief fell ill with the sickness. The princess who loved him knew in her heart that something had to be done, and after cooling his fever and kissing him softly on the forehead, she slipped away.

It took her all night and day to reach the place spokin of in the legend. After praying, she fulfilled the prophesy by jumping without hesitation to her death on the rocks below.

Back at the villages the next morning, those who had been sick arose well and strong. There was great joy and celebration until the young warrior realized that his beloved bride was missing."

She saved many people. While reading this, I put myself in the young warriors position. You should try it too. Think of someone you love very much! Anybody! Go through the story again and just think of that person. Now think of them loving you so so so much, and because of love, they willingly gave up their life to save YOU! Well that's what Jesus did! But so much more! Some of yall are probably like 'duh!', but for me, hearing it in this perspective helped me a little more in realizing God's love for me. So I will leave you with this...'For God loved the world (YOU!) in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.