The Shack: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

Jesus meets Papa and Mack when they arrive back at the cabin. He takes Mack into his work shed, where he shows him a beautifully wrought coffin. It is intricately carved with scenes from Missy’s life, showing her with each of her family members and enjoying her favorite activities. Jesus says that Missy picked out the scenes herself. They carefully place Missy in the box and fill it with flowers from Sarayu’s pack.

Sarayu leads them outside to the space in the garden that Mack helped her clear the day before. There is a hole there and they lower the coffin into it. Sarayu sings a song that Missy wrote for the occasion, about becoming one with the wind. She scatters a vial of Mack’s tears on the earth, and where each one falls, flowers bloom instantly. A special tear causes a tree to bloom, and Sarayu says it is a tree of life growing in the garden of Mack’s heart.

Inside the cabin, Papa leads them to the living room, where there is a glass of wine and a loaf of fresh bread. Papa says that Mack has a choice. He can either remain with them and continue to grow and learn, or he can return to his family and friends. If he stays, he will see Missy that afternoon. But, Papa says, Missy is in a place beyond impatience and will also not mind waiting for Mack. Mack says it’s a tough choice and asks if anything he does at home even matters. Sarayu says that it all matters, because he is important. If Mack forgives or performs an act of kindness, it changes the whole universe for the better. Mack says that, in that case, he will go back.

Sarayu says she has one more gift for Mack. She tells him that Kate believes she is to blame for Missy’s death. Suddenly, it all makes sense to Mack. He can’t believe he didn’t realize that was the source of Kate’s grief sooner. He thanks Sarayu. Jesus also offers him a gift, the small tin box where Mack keeps his prized belongings. But Mack says he wants Jesus to keep it, because “All my best treasurs are now hidden in you anyway. I want you to be my life.” Jesus says that he is.

Mack and the three enjoy the bread and wine and then Mack begins preparing to go home, knowing it is time to tell Nan everything. He changes into his old clothes. When he returns to the living room, the three are gone, but he realizes it would have been silly to say goodbye anyway. Exhausted by the emotions of the weekend, he falls asleep on the floor and then snaps awake on the cold floor of the shack, which looks as it did when he first arrived, down to the bloodstain by the fireplace. He realizes he is back in the real world, or he thinks, smiling, the unreal world.

Mack begins the uneventful drive home, thinking about Nan. He feels at peace and strangely exhilarated. He wants to get home to Kate. Suddenly, another driver plows through a red light at an intersection, slamming into Mack’s car. Unconscious, he is airlifted to a nearby hospital.