So...we have excitement and joy, on the one hand, with the arrival two days ago of our granddaughter (!!) into the world. In a few weeks we'll be flying to see baby, Mama, and Papa, so that, of course, is cool beyond words.

At the same time, I've had a few lesser excitements entering my life with respect to this writing-for-publication thing. The latest: Sunday I sit down for an interview with William P. Young, author of The Shack. He's speaking in Calgary that evening--I've got tickets--so I emailed him and he replied and set me up with his scheduler and I meet him in the afternoon in his hotel lobby.

In preparation I just finished reading the book, which, in evangelical circles is both wildly praised and strongly criticized. The critics are mainly theologians who think much of his theology, in a book containing a lot of it, is suspect. People who really really like the book tend to be people who've been deeply wounded in life and/or by the church, and who find the story healing. Young calls his book a "parable" and I guess I can see that.

Quick plot summary: beaten-up, depressed Christian man with lots of bitterness and questions as a result of having lost his young daughter to a serial killer gets an odd invitation in his mail box. It's to meet "Papa," his wife's name for God, at the shack where his daughter was killed. There he has long, emotive conversations with the three Persons of the Godhead who have appeared in human form. God the Father, for example, appears as a large African-American woman(!).

You can already see why this would freak out many evangelicals. My reaction? For the most part, I liked the book. I didn't get into it with an attitude of criticism. I wanted to see for myself what the hubbub was about and form my own opinion. Parts of it I found moving, to the point of tears. It did give fresh insight into God and His ways. I can fully understand how God could use the book to help wounded souls. The book's best feature is to show God as very approachable and very loving. People who've always seen Him as distant need to hear that message in spades.

At the same time, I've been around evangelical churches--and done enough study of the Bible and theology--to find other parts rather cringe-inducing. I understand the criticism that it brings God down to our level a bit too much. The "otherness" and holiness of God that caused people encountering Him in the Bible to be stunned with fear and awe is missing.

But as one Christianity Today writer put it, you have to approach the book on its terms, and it's primarily about redemption and healing, not a theological treatise. If you want both a good yarn and fully vetted theology (and don't mind outdated language) I say read Pilgrim's Progress, not this book.

Anyhow, in regard to the aforementioned interview, this is actually quite interesting and encouraging (obviously). The Christian publication I'm writing this article for wants me to ask him specific questions, plus I have some of my own...