Same goes for books and movies. I typically won’t rush out and buy a book just because it’s on the best seller list or because it’s a book club favorite. I’m much more likely to read based on personal recommendations . . . from people who know me well. (An example of this would be, The Help. Several friends recommended this book to me. I read it and I loved it! Even more so, I loved the author's comments at the end, which seem to capture my own conflicted emotions about growing up in Mississippi.)
A few years ago, a little book made its rounds through many circles, The Shack, by William P. Young. People from different parts of my life raved about this book. {{Shrug}} For some reason, it didn’t interest me at all . . . at least not enough to track down getting a copy.
I eventually did read The Shack while visiting a friend in Beijing. She had it on her shelf and I was able to read it fairly quickly. I can’t say that I was too impressed . . . I didn’t particularly care for the author’s imagery, even though that was the whole purpose of the images he used . . . to break free from preconceptions. I do know I tend to look at things through different cultural lenses, so while I didn't really like the book, I can't say that I passionately disliked it either. I finished the book and moved on with my life. However, there was one paragraph in the book that grabbed me enough to write it down. (I have long written down quotes from books and have many of them compiled in a personal notebook entitled “Impact.”)
Just because God works incredible good out of unspeakable tragedy doesn’t mean he orchestrates the tragedy. Don’t ever assume that He caused it or that He needed it to accomplish His purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about Him. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering, you will find grace in many facets and colors.
I have no idea why I recorded that paragraph. I don’t even know who said it or in what reference it was said. I tell you what . . . wait a minute . . . let me go online and check.
[crickets]
Okay. I’m back. It was the “God character” and originally, it was written in first person. I had changed it to third person for my little notebook.
I don’t recall, though, why I wrote it down. I read the book two years ago and I can’t think of anything that could have triggered the desire to remember this nugget. Perhaps, it was all in preparation for now.
I'm receiving emails from all corners of the world. I'm so touched by what people write and by their words of encouragement. What's pretty amazing, though, is hearing what people are saying about how my cancer has impacted their lives in such personal ways. I'm seeing unity among an extremely diverse group of people . . . unity that goes far beyond my physical health. I see God's hand working incredible good out of this journey.
It's pretty incredible to see all this happening around me. Sometimes, I feel like I'm merely a spectator and/or listener . . . and a masterpiece is unfolding before my eyes/ears.