Author offers a road map to miracles

Therese Marszalek of Deer Park believes in miracles, big and small, and not just because she’s written books about them.

The devoutly Christian woman believes it’s a miracle she has written four books, with a fifth to be published in 2011, while battling grief, physical illness and depression.

On Friday, Marszalek will celebrate the publication of her latest book, “From the Wilderness to the Miraculous” (Destiny Image Publishers, 2010) with an event at the Service Station in north Spokane.

Proceeds from the event’s book sales will benefit Off Broadway Family Outreach, a ministry for street people and low-income families in Spokane’s West Central neighborhood.

“I don’t really feel it’s necessary to defend any miracles God has done,” Marszalek says of encountering skeptics. “My job is to document them.”

In her best-known book, “Extraordinary Miracles in the Lives of Ordinary People” (Harrison House Publishers, 2007), Marszalek recounted 50 miracles experienced by men and women of all ages.

People recounted their healings from chronic, debilitating illnesses, for instance, or how emotional or financial help arrived just in time to ease suffering from economic despair or spiritual bankruptcy.

Not all of the miracle recipients were fervent believers.

“Sometimes miracles happen where not only did the person not have faith, they didn’t even believe in God,” she said.

“We can’t put God in a box. He just simply loves people, and however he wants to get to them, he’ll do it. There is no formula, that’s for sure.”

Once she started looking, Marszalek found miracle stories everywhere.

“I would run into somebody on an airplane or while visiting someone,” she said.

Her miracle writing led to guest appearances on several television shows well-known in Christian circles, such as a special titled “Miracles in Our Midst” by Grizzly Adams Productions.

As Marszalek, a wife and mother of three, worked on her books and made more and more public appearances, her exterior persona belied her private struggle. Migraines, fatigue and depression dogged her.

“Here I was collecting miracles, documenting them from throughout the world, and I myself needed miracles,” she said.

Marszalek offers her latest book, “From the Wilderness to the Miraculous,” as a road map for others wandering in an emotional wilderness.

“Now I have an opportunity to encourage people that are going through times like that,” she said. “You have to walk through things first before you can really have compassion and understand where people are.”

The book also offers prayers, suggested Bible readings, reflection/ discussion questions and space for journal entries.

Now feeling better, and writing more than ever, Marszalek has a list of causes she plans to support from her book sales in the coming years.

She feels she has much to celebrate on Friday.

“I used to complain so much to God about all the bad news and all the hopelessness,” she said. “In the world today, there’s so much need for hope and encouragement.”