The Shack: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Mack comes to a rock face, but finds that, miraculously, he is able to walk through the wall. He finds himself in a tunnel leading to a large, dark cavern illuminated only with a faint light that seems to be emanating from Mack himself. In the center of the cavern is a chair. Mack takes a seat and sees in front of him a regal olive-skinned woman standing behind a huge ebony desk. Mack is overwhelmed by her beauty. She asks if Mack understands why he is there, and although he does not, he finds himself entranced just by the sound of her voice.

The olive-skinned woman says she is there to help Mack on this serious day and that Mack is there because of his children, which confuses him. She says Mack has done a commendable job of loving his children, despite the fact that not all parents are able to care for their children well—Mack’s own father, she points out, did not love him well. Then, she asks him which of his children he loves the most. He smiles, saying that he loves them all in unique ways. Each of his children seemed to bring with them the capacity for him to give more love. He likens it to how Papa is “especially fond” of each of her children. The woman smiles, saying Mack is wise to realize that love expands to contain the knowing of each child.

When the olive-skinned woman says that Mack loves his children the way the Father loves his, Mack bristles, saying that if Missy is one of God’s children, God doesn’t love his children very well. The woman grows serious and tells Mack that he is there for judgment—not for him to be judged, but for him to judge others. Mack says he has no ability to judge, but she points out that he judges the actions and motivations of others, judges based on appearance and history, and more. Such judgment makes him feel superior to others. Mack knows his judgments have been superficial, designed simply to make him feel safe or reinforce his beliefs. She tells Mack to take her seat behind the large desk, and he does, reluctantly.

The olive-skinned woman tells Mack he is there to judge God and the human race. She says he must feel that many people need judgment, like the greedy or those who beat their wives or children, or the man who killed Missy.

At that, Mack’s anger breaks through, and he says Missy’s killer should be damned to hell. The olive-skinned woman asks about that man’s father, who raised a monster; Mack agrees that he should be damned, as well. The woman says that by that logic it is then necessary to follow a legacy of brokenness going all the way back to Adam and then God. She says that this is what fuels The Great Sadness—Mack’s distrust of God. Mack says that yes, God is to blame for allowing a twisted soul to take Missy when he could have stopped it.

The olive-skinned woman tells Mack that if he thinks he has the ability to judge God, he certainly has the ability to judge all of humanity. She says he must choose only two of his children to join God in heaven, while the rest will go to hell. Panicking, Mack says he doesn’t want to be the judge. He refuses to choose, even when the woman says he must. Crying and begging, he pleads to be taken to hell in the place of his children. Smiling, she says he sounds like Jesus and she is proud of him. She says that he has judged his children worthy of love, even at cost to himself, and now he knows Papa’s heart.

Relieved, Mack sits back in the chair. But Mack says he still doesn’t understand how Papa could love Missy and let her murder happen. The olive-skinned woman says that the world is severely broken because humans demanded independence. Horrible things happen to those Papa loves because of this. Missy dying was not part of Papa’s plan. The woman says the way out of this pain is to give up independence, stop trying to be the judge, and instead know and embrace Papa. Mack says he wants to stop being a judge and trust Papa, but he still needs time.

Suddenly, Mack hears children’s laughter. One wall of the cavern becomes transparent, though still impassable. Through it, he sees his children playing near where a stream flows into the lake—all of his children, including Missy. Missy runs over to the rock face. The olive-skinned woman says Missy knows Mack is there, but cannot see or hear him, even though he calls out to her. Mack tries to memorize every detail of her face and hair. She mouths and signs, “I love you.” The woman tells Mack this is a glimpse into the beautiful afterlife. The other children will experience this moment as a dream.

Mack says he still feels like it’s his fault that Missy was taken, but the olive-skinned woman says that no one else believes that, and even if they did, he would be forgiven. Someone calls Missy’s name, and she mimes giving Mack a final hug and kiss. He sees Jesus give Missy a hug as a waterfall crashes down in front of him, obscuring his view. The cave has become a grotto behind the waterfall. Mack says he feels less stuck. The woman points him towards the grotto entrance, and he sees Jesus waiting for him by the shore. As he heads in that direction, Mack focuses on his memory of Missy, and misses Nan very much.