The Shack - a wonderful read.

The Shack
by William P. Young

The plot is quite simple... while on a camping trip with his kids, Mackenzie Allen Philips experiences something most fathers dread – the abduction of his youngest daughter - Missy. To make matters worse, with exception to a bloodied dress, she is never found. How this affects Mack and his family, however is just the prelude – the set-up for the REAL story... and what a story it is.

How does one recover from such a tragedy? How would anyone not question the existence of God – specially a God that allows this tragedy to happen? Well, Mack's family tried to do the first, and Mack definitely did the second... and pain of not having any closure for Missy was giving his entire family the 'great sadness'.

But Mack gets a chance that most anyone would either balk at or find too incredulous – he receives a note asking him to meet the sender at the last know location where traces of Missy's existence, her life, was found... an old abandoned shack in the middle of the wilderness. The note's sender? 'Papa' which is their family's simple and private reference to God.

How would you feel if you got such a note? Would you believe it? Would you pass it off as a cruel joke? Would you just tear it up? Would you not pass up the chance to tell God in the face what you think of his existence and love; specially since having allowed Missy to be a victim and casualty? Mack eventually did – and his experience, as the book elaborates, borders on incredible to believable, from simple to profound... and the story is a testament to love and healing.

As a father myself, I found that I could empathize – even sympathize with Mack... his questions, his frustrations, his rage... these could easily be my own as well – and with exception to the latter, I really could relate. And as Mack approached the Shack – no spoilers in that one, after all... there'd be no story had Mack decided to ignore the note and not go to the shack, I read with equal curiosity.

The author requests that the book's readers help spread the book – specially if they found it a fascinating read, and that is the reason for this blog. He also requests that we do not give anything away... hence my being vague about the book's contents with exception to the said conversation with God, that I have read from a friend's blog... so I feel that I am not giving anything away.

I will not be surprised if many others who read this will find themselves profoundly touched and changed – and it is a very engaging read. Imagine me reading the book, while having my annual physical... it was not just helping me pass the time in between waits, it helped me look at a few well entrenched religious perceptions... one of them which is automatically thinking God is a he – due to the well entrenched 'God the father' connotation... and yes, Jesus is here too – and for people who respect but wonder about the Holy Trinity, well, let me just say that this book will either leave you with a better understanding of such trinity, or leave you with more questions.

Oh yeah... before I forget... fine, I'm man enough to admit that the book made me cry -- seven times, and I can only imagine how I looked; tearful and all, while waiting for my next test. It touched me... and maybe, in some ways, strengthened and renewed my faith... and if I could, I would not hesitate to give several copies of this book to loved-ones and friends. Unfortunately, I'm currently experiencing what is hopefully a temporary setback with financial earnings (its connected to the global recession - thanks for nothing Wall Street), so instead, I write this blog and openly recommend the book – I hope my friends read it, and look forward to meaningful conversations about The Shack.

My suggestion? Give the book a try, but I guess this comes with some caveats - if some of your religious values are being questioned, don't stop right there and just toss the book down, thinking its a subtle trap from the devil – rather, go beyond your views, and see this story through – after all, just because you feel or think you are right, does not make your view the absolute truth or right (unless you can say you've had as close a conversation with God as Mack did – in which case you could likewise ask someone to write your story).

Why am I saying this? Because I believe that many institutionalized ideas and notions may suffer from its pedestals, and the book may be given a bad rap. But when you really think (and feel) about it, you might... just might give a grudging consideration to the topics and ideas being discussed within the book's pages.

If you don't agree with the ideas put forth, I'd likewise respect that. But if you find the book equally enjoyable... and maybe even revelatory, then well and good – nice to know it would have helped – and in my little way, I too helped facilitate this chance for change.

As for me... how did it affect me? Well, I can't wait for the movie adaptation, and am already wondering who they'd cast for the main parts... but that 's just the surface considerations – do I have deeper value changes as a result of reading the book?

The concept and value of forgiveness springs to mind... not that I'm not a forgiving soul... I'd like to think that I am; just that I find it difficult in certain situations to dish out forgiveness. This book gives me a fresh perspective on some concepts, and it definitely make me more 'self-aware' – as the book made me reflect on the meaning of unconditional love... and yes – even the simple concept of verbs versus nouns... (read the book, so you'll understand where I'm coming from) will have a deeper effect on me.

I envy Mack his experience... though at this point in time, I am honestly not in any real hurry to experience what he did. After all, having a conversation with God isn't something one can say they are prepared for. I wouldn't even mind reading the book a second time... though I think I'll lend it to my sister and mom first – God knows they could use it. I expect not just a few tearful moments from them too.

As for you, reading this entry... should you (hopefully) decide to give The Shack a try, and find the book moving, well; as the lyric goes: '...tell me all your thoughts about God... cause I'd really like to hear 'em...'

No... really... I wouldn't mind hearing them.

P.S. Thanks are due to my friend, Gege Sugue... it was her blog about this book that made me decide to go ahead and read it. You see, by itself, the book's blurb left something to be desired... rather than wanting to read it, I felt that I had better things to do. Only after reading Gege's blog did I realize that I was possibly missing out on something great. So... Thanks Ge!

Finally got my Starbucks planner - 2009

A few weeks ago, I posted in my other blog the fact that Starbucks had released its new planner - and the accompanying card where you're expected to collect and stick stickers for said planner, and though I had not yet seen it, I was already commenting on the fat that a lot of people would start getting their coffee fixes in Starbucks, just to get the necessary stickers for the new planner as reward after you've had the required number of stickers stuck to your card.

This year, the number of stickers have been lessened, form around 20, we now just need 16 stickers... guess they wizened up... maybe less people got the planner last year - me being one of them... but that was more because the design didn't strike me as worth getting - see, last year's design was too artsy for me. Hence I just bought a simple but elegant planner from National (as you can see from this picture - the green one of course)

I was, in fact, half ready to once again buy the same planner - but when I saw the Starbucks' planner for this year, I thought it was indeed less artsy - simple and handy... so i thought, its just 16 stickers anyway, and i would not go out of my way to buy and drink the coffee, so... it was worth a try. After all, even if its just one coffee a day - for 16 days... I'd have my planner before Christmas... that assumes, of course that I would start my daily coffee or 'frap' on the first day of December (I started earlier), and it wouldn't be like I was addicted to the stuff - nor was I getting more than my usual, just to get the planner.

Well, I finally got my planner about two weeks ago - yeah, that fast, and I'm happy to say I did not overdose on caffeine either. See, I had help... Barbie and the kids would order their fraps on a Saturday, and naturally, we'd get four stickers just like that. Sometimes, barbie would even pay for the drinks, so those would be free stickers - hey, why will I complain?

I chose black, of course... I mean, I found that red and blue, though stylish, were not exactly my color - if they'd have had green, that would have been my choice - but lacking that, the only other color option they (and I) had was black... so black it is. Though if I'm to understand them, red seems to be a favorite color... maybe for the ladies. Anyway... I'm satisfied with what I got.

A week or two later, Barbie also got her card filled and she went for the black as well (since there was no red). Now? I'm still collecting stickers - but only when I chance upon as Starbucks. If I can find a red, that is what I'll get next so I'd most probably give it to Barbie... if she's interested.

Where is Christmas?

It's the middle of December - and in just a few more days (exactly a week from now) the Christmas season will officially start here in the Philippines' Simbang Gabi. The malls have started showing signs of decorating their surroundings with Christmas themes and television shows have started the Christmas countdown some months ago. Offices have already set up their own trees, and carols have been introduced into shopping center's piped-in speakers. Yet despite the obvious trappings of our surroundings, I seem to detect a lack of enthusiasm for this Christmas - ans to seemingly cooperate with the lack of spirit, even the weather has deemed to make us think it's close to summer than the usual cooler ambiance that accompanies December. What gives?

Well for starters, everyone around the world is seemingly reacting to the sobering news of a sluggish U.S. economy that has officially been in Recession since last year, and quite possibly Depression - if corrective actions that are being undertaken do not pump some much needed stability and confidence in its buyers and creditors. Since life seems had in the west, the eastern hemisphere seems to be reacting - specially in a market closely tied together with trading through the internet, one shrinkage is easily felt across either the Pacific or Atlantic... and a market as large as the U.S. is hard to miss - nor its repercussions easy to avoid.

It is in this backdrop that this year's Christmas seems bleaker than usual... where we normally try to forget the year's worries and problems to try and celebrate - to get into the spirit of giving (and receiving), I notice a dearth of spirit... and some multinational companies showing effects of a tighter U.S. economy by likewise tightening their belts is not a positive indicator that things are getting better.

Indeed, many companies have started their belt-tightening activities... this despite the fact that economists try to point out that our fundamentals are stable... but are seemingly met by a deaf crowd, that presumably believes otherwise. Again, let me emphasize here - the Asian Development Bank has been asked - possibly several times, if we (Asia) will be in a recession - and the bank has repeatedly said that we are not.. but has this been emphasized by media? Meanwhile. many people are hunkering down to preservation mode - not willing to spend and therefore letting the economy slow down... not because of having no money - but because they are wary of spending money in a seemingly unstable world.

With banks and Auto industries citing financial woes - with real estate being sluggish, with the seemingly impossible meltdown of institutions like Citicorp and A.I.G., one would think that this will definitely be one of the worst crisis the wordl has collectively faced.

Personally, it seems not too promising - Accenture has (out of the blue) pulled out all its scheduled trainings (hence my bread and butter) for the rest of the year. And there may be some uncertainties as to what can happen next year. Everyone is holding their collective breath... many fear the worst. Its a classic who moved my cheese moment - and I have been farming out for other opportunities in a 'not putting every eggs in one basket' basis. I may be affected with a sudden loss of PrimaryEdge training B.P.O. contract with Accenture, but I'm not totally out of the fight... plus I'd trust Car (Testa) to likewise be able to negotiate another year (at least) of servicing Accenture's training needs. now if things don't happen that way - well, there are other options... but I won't lose sleep over 'what may be', focusing rather on what I can do.

Maybe now is the best time to remind ourselves that Christmas is not about material gains - granted it helps make the season merry... but simply focusing on gift-giving (or receiving) is the wrong philosophy -its the wrong practice, and it definitely runs counter to the original Christmas story. Its about giving... yes; and receiving - but this is basically about sharing... about remembering the arrival of our savior Jesus Christ (yes I'm Roman Catholic). Perhaps its time to reflect (once again) on the fact that the nativity happened in a most humbling location... a stable.

We may have problems - we may experience some slowdown - and until the U.S. economy seems to finally get out of the hole it finds itself in, people may hoard their money or belongings, we will continue having such difficulties... but this should not distract us from Christmas. It shouldn't affect our celebration. Counting blessings aside, we need to refocus on the meaning and spirit of Christmas.

Be thankful for what we have... focus on what is good. If anything, the Secret (a book and DVD) have told us the power of an idea - that if we think positive... positive things will happen. I mean, what can we expect when a lot of people foresee bleakness? Sometimes we have the capacity to have self-fulfilling prophecies - and if we are always thinking negative thoughts, what do we expect?

So what can we expect when a lot of people foresee bleakness? Sometimes we have the capacity to have self-fulfilling prophecies - and if we are all thinking problematic situations - aren't we just asking for it?

Nope... not I. Even if bleakness seems to surround us, I would like to focus on the positive, and everyone else should too. So do me a favor... stop griping, stop worrying... by all means, prepare for what may happen - but stop thinking of the worst case scenario - think instead of the good that can happen. Prepare for the better times, and lets start by celebrating (even in an austere manner) the true meaning of Christmas.

Its all about hope, people. Start acting it. Where is Christmas? Its always been with us - in us. All we need do is look inside... remember and be thankful. Oh yeah... and if you find the capacity to give - by all means, do so. You've surely got something... anything to be thankful for, so start paying it forward.

Even if its the hottest year, even if its one of the bleakest economy - find something to be thankful for. Guess that's what I envy about the U.S. they've got a holiday (aside from Christmas) for being thankful (unless you're a turkey). Share the love - share the spiritual wealth. Remember the true meaning of Christmas - after all, if we just let this pass, we'll have to wait another 365 days for the next one to come.

Christmas can be found; alive and well in us all - we just have to wish it so. Why am I so... spiritual? Why am I suddenly so... profound? maybe its the Coffee and Krispy Kreme I had - who knows? I just felt like blogging tonight - after a relatively long hiatus. What better way to retart with what is hopefully... a reminder to hope? A Meaningful and Merry Christmas to all - real soon.