I Am Especially Fond Of You

During the Christmas season I read a lot of Christmas stories. In fact, I collect them. I love how this season of the year impacts people in so many ways. This week, in addition to all my Christmas readying, I re-read a book that in not a Christmas story, but impacted my life the first time I read it. In fact, I wrote a blog about it a few months ago. The book is The Shack.

This time, the chapter titled A Festival of Friends (#15), really affected me. As chapter 14 closes, the Holy Spirit, named Sarayu, tells Mack (the main character) that "for tonight, I would love you to see a bit of what we see." After she touches him, the author writes, "He turned back to Sarayu, who still stood next to him. Although she was difficult to look at directly, he could now make out symmetry and colors embedded within patterns, as if miniature diamonds, rubies, and sapphires of all colors had been sewn into a garment of light, which moved first in waves and then scattered as particulate." The author goes on to describe all of Creation in terms of light, beautiful light in different hues and intensity. Color that could not be imgined. Creation that is perfect, unspoiled by sin. The author goes on to write, "Mack realized also that he felt no pain, not even in his usually aching joints. In fact, he had never felt this well, this whole. His head was clear and he breathed deeply the scents and aromas of the night and of the sleeping flowers in the garden, many of which had begun to awaken to this celebration. Delirious and delicious joy welled up inside of him and he jumped, floating slowly up into the air; then returned gently to the ground."

What the author was describing was a scene from heaven, where God's perfection extends to mankind and changes everything. The part of this chapter that knocked me for a loop was near the end. The author, William P. Young, writes, "A hush descended. The anticipation was palpable. Suddenly to their right, from out of the darkness emerged Jesus, and pandemonium broke out. (my emphasis) He was dressed in a simple brilliant white garment and wore on his head a simple gold crown, but he was every inch the king of the universe. He walked the path that opened before him in the center-the center of all Creation, the man who is God and the God who is man. Light and color danced and wove a tapestry of love for him to step on. Some were crying out words of love, while others simply stood with hands lifted up. Many of those whose colors were the riches and deepest were lying flat on their face. Everything that had a breath sang out a song of unending love and thankfulness. Tonight the universe was as it was intended."

I wept many times while reading this book, sometimes longing for the kind of relationship with Pappa that the author was describing, and sometimes overjoyed at the scenes being portrayed. I wept at this spot because of the longing to see Jesus like He really is. I want Him to cause pandemonium to break out when I think about our relationship, when I spend time in His Word, when I spend time in prayer. What a wonderful thought, that everytime we met to enjoy His presence, pandemonium would break out!

One last thought from this chapter, and the title of this blog. In the midst of all the pandemonium, all the people worshiping Jesus, and out of everyone that Jesus could have chosen, from a distance He whispers into Mack's ear, "Mack, I am especially fond of you." As I sat on the couch, next to our Christmas tree, enjoying the scene from the book that I was imagining, I think I heard a voice in my mind whisper, "Louie, I am expecially fond of you."