Post #3: Book 1 Project: Fan Experience

Do you want to feel the Great Sadness Mackenzie Phillips felt during The Shack? Come to the deep Oregon wilderness to find the shack! This will be our first annual opening to the public. You will get to feel the touching of Saryu on your eyes and have a one on one talk with God! You might even find Missy frolicking around the garden. Papa makes wonderful meals that you just can’t get enough of. Spots are filling up fast so make sure you reserve yours today! This real life experience of visiting The Shack is a remarkable opportunity to connect with the characters and have a real life experience!

Mackenzie decided it would be a good idea to take his children camping however things took a spin for the worse when his two other children canoe tipped and Mack went diving in for both. He went back to get Missy where he left he. But there was no Missy all he found was a ladybug pin. Mack found out that the ladybug had initials on the back, which represented the murderer, and black dots represented a murdered girl. Mack becomes extremely sad over the death of his daughter, which he calls The Great Sadness. He is unable to cope himself and was limiting his life. "Shortly after the summer that Missy vanished, The Great Sadness had draped itself around Mack' shoulders like some invisible but almost tangibly heavy quilt. At times he could feel it slowly tightening around his chest and heart like the crushing coils of a constrictor." Then four years later, God, or as Mackenzie likes to call him, Papa, sends him a letter and tells him to go to The Shack. Mackenzie is very skeptical and isn’t sure if it’s the right thing to do not knowing what to expect. When he arrives he finds nothing and sees no one except the large red bloodstain on the wood, the spot Missy was murdered. Mack was planning to leave when right before his eyes everything changes; the dark woods suddenly turned bright, flowers bloomed. “Mack stopped and watched as all around him the white covering dissolved and was replaced by emerging and radiant growth. Three weeks of spring unfurled before him in thirty seconds.” Mackenzie made his way back to the shack and as he proceeded to turn the knob the door swung open and there was Papa with opens arms greeting Mackenzie. Jesus, God, and Saryu took very good care of Mack, making him delicious food, long walks discussing how to find happiness and escape the great sadness that wouldn’t leave him. On the last day of Mack’s stay God said he would like to take him on a hike. They approached a large rock, God directed Mack to these large rocks where Missy’s dead body was hidden. “It only took them a few minutes to find their treasure. On a small rock outcropping, Mack saw the body of what he assumed was his Missy; face up, her body covered by a dirty and decaying sheet.” When Mack left The Shack he headed home and was excited to tell everyone the news about the visiting of God and the findings of his Missy, even though he thought no one would believe him. However, on his way home Mack go into a car crash, and lost majority of his memory. 

The real life opportunity to visit The Shack and connect with character allows readers to dig down deeper into their favorite book.  When you visit you’ll be put into the shoes of Mack, and follow the same steps Mack took while watching the shack transform. You’ll talk to Papa about the great sadness that won’t leave you and the sadness that confines you and your happiness. You’ll be able to express to Papa all your feelings and ask him many questions about the death of your Missy. You’ll get to feel the touching of Sayru on your eyes and then be placed into the visions of God. You will get to end your remarkable trip with finding the body of Missy. It’s an unforgettable trip that will last a lifetime.