Today, I met with some of my Wednesday Girls for coffee/tea and a book discussion. We are reading through a couple of books this summer, and today we started our discussion of The Shack. An interesting book, to say the least, and one that brings about lively discussion [As an aside: If you read it, don’t just take the book’s word as the last word. As it helps you think about God in a little broader fashion, be sure you filter it through the Truth He’s given about Himself in Scripture. For more, see my comment to this post. ]
There is an instance in the book where the character of the Holy Spirit stops to collect the tears of the main character, Mack. The tears are lovingly and gently taken from his face and stored in a bottle. One of my girlfriends said, “isn’t that directly from scripture?” Another friend, Miss Techno-savvy, whipped out her Palm with the bible software and did a quick search for “tear”. Nothing about tear-collection that she could see. So we moved on.
I kept thinking about it. When I got home, there was an email waiting for me from Right to the Heart of Women (Rebekah Montgomery/Linda Evans Shepherd), called, “Does God Value Your Tears?” And there it was, in a different translation than the one my friend was searching:
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT)
Think of all the times we’ve been told to stop crying, to be a big girl, to dry it up. All those tears treated like something to be tossed away with the soggy Kleenex. Sometimes, they are surface tears that are more about getting attention than deep-down hurt, and perhaps those really do belong in the trash.
But there are other tears. Tears that are born of the deep, piercing wound, of trials that are being borne bravely through second-by-second surrender and trust. Those are the tears that are so valuable to our God that He lovingly removes them, one-by-one, and stores them in His bottle – the tears that He uses to wash away our anxiety, to cleanse our wounds, to heal our hearts. Yes, those are the tears that glisten like diamonds when stored together, a monument to Emmanuel, “God With Us”.
God with us…through every tear.
It was a Jewish custom for married women to collect their tears in a bottle they wore around their neck while their husband was traveling, and give him the bottle upon his return to show how much they had missed him. This tradition may have come out of the Psalm.
Also, Mark Driscol has a review (and not necessarily positive) of The Shack on YouTube.
Amy,
Thanks for letting me know about that custom – very cool!
I do know about the MANY not-so-positive reviews on The Shack, having read most of them. I originally read the book through, prior to reading any other opinions on it, and had some reservations of my own. However, it is very engaging FICTION and, after having another friend whose opinion I respect read the book, decided it had enough merit to present it to the group for discussion.
In my opinion, the book serves to cause you to take God out of the box you may keep Him in and relish the great lengths to which He goes to pursue YOU – personally and individually. It can enhance the way you think of God as a intensely personal and loving father, and not just a removed entity. It also gives a very unique look at the way the persons of the Trinity work and love together as the One and Only God. All good things.
HOWEVER, it does NOT really include the Bible as an important part of the relationship (and can sometimes even seem to hold it in low regard). This is NOT a good thing, and what I think is the main problem and missing component in this book.
AT ALL TIMES, no matter what we read (but especially allegorical works or anything touted as being/based on “truth”), we need to filter it through what we KNOW is true through scripture. We thereby protect ourselves from false teaching and, as in the case of this and other popular books, we can discuss them with unbelievers with a balanced and grounded view.
Whew! Got a little long-winded there! :o)
I am sending this comments link to a friend of mine who has read The Shack, and wanted me to read it so she would have someone with whom to discuss it. I think she will appreciate your thoughts on it…