The Shack

Mack leaves the garden and goes to the workshop to find Jesus, who is putting the finishing touches on a project he is preparing for the next day. Jesus invites him on an excursion to the other side of the lake, but Mack is surprised when Jesus bypasses the canoes and heads straight for the water. It becomes clear that Jesus intends to walk on the water to the other side, inviting Mack to join him. Mack confesses his fear, and Jesus observes that Mack is too often held captive by his imagination of what the future might bring; he encourages Mack to live in the present moment instead. Mack steps onto the waves and finds to his astonishment that he doesn’t sink.

They come to a waterfall on the lake’s other side and sit, surveying the beauty of the landscape around them. They reflect on the wonder of this natural beauty and the poor job humanity has done caring for it. Mack wonders why God doesn’t just take Earth back and fix it rather than let humanity wreak ecological catastrophe on his good works, but Jesus replies that being in loving relationship involves mutual submission to one another’s choices.