About the Author:
Barbara Marshak is a freelance writer and author with over 100 published articles and stories. Her essays can be found in Groovy Chicks, Cup of Comfort, and God's Way, among others. She has also written for national and regional periodicals, including Guideposts, Minnesota Monthly, and Lake Country Journal. In 2006 she was selected as a featured author in Bylines. Barbara's next endeavor will be pursuing publication for her completed novel, Blue Moon. A native of Minnesota, Barbara and her husband, John, reside in the Twin Cities and have a blended family of six children.
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God's Glory/My Story
by Barbara Marshak
Chance Encounter or God's Design
On a family vacation in the Black Hills one summer we happened upon an upcoming Native American musician in the tourist town of Deadwood, South Dakota. The distinct sound of Brulé, a small band of three, initially caught my attention. A hauntingly beautiful mix of flute, piano, and traditional drum, it rivaled the captivating surrounding landscape. Listening, one could immediately sense something deeper at the heart of it.
On a tight time schedule, I hurried to buy a CD and grab an artist bio before we rushed away. In reading about Paul LaRoche, the band's founder, I realized this man's life journey was equally captivating. Adopted at birth from a reservation, Paul didn't uncover his Native American heritage until he was in his mid-30s, a discovery that transformed his life forever. Throughout the long drive back to the Twin Cities I kept hearing a voice, you should write a book about this man. I automatically dismissed the voice, unwilling to believe I could or should do such a thing. You should write a book about him, the voice persisted.
Back at home I was in the midst of scratching out the beginnings of a writing career at age 43. Still working outside the home and fulfilling the needs of our blended family, "free time" was nonexistent. Deep down I longed to learn the craft, but conferences and seminars were merely a far-off dream. It boiled down to learning on my own through trial and error, writing late into the night after everyone else was in bed. I felt called by God—as many writers do—to write for Him. Even though I didn't have a single article published, I believed God had plans for my half-finished novel.
A couple of years passed and each time I listened to Brulé's music, the voice returned—distinct and clear. I was making headway with my writing, albeit slow. The novel was nearing completion. I had just attended a Native American Pow Wow in northern Minnesota, the subject of what would be my third published article. The wondrous sights and sounds of the Ojibwe gathering impressed me beyond expectations, and I thought again of Paul LaRoche. Finally I reached a point where I knew I needed to listen to that voice, and respond.
Spurred by God's prompting and fresh images of the Pow Wow, I summoned the courage to contact Paul. As our initial talk regarding a short article turned to discussions of a complete book, I thought back to that chance encounter on main street Deadwood. I had only a few moments to listen, to watch, as he played. We didn't even speak. Yet God intertwined our otherwise separate lives and gave them a connected purpose in a unique and surprising way.
As the manuscript gained momentum God's assurances came at crucial intervals. Each trip to the Black Hills and the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation brought a valuable piece of the story to life for me. I may not understand why He chose me to write Paul's biography, or why He chose this as my first published book instead of my novel, but I trust in His purpose. Seeing Paul that first time in South Dakota was not a chance encounter. It was God's perfectly designed plan, and stepping out in faith allowed my own dream of a published book to come true.
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