Heart of a Native
by
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Jack arrived early for the funeral mass. Desperate for some relief from his tortured mind, he decided to make a confession. After entering the confessional booth and kneeling, he made the sign of the cross and ritualistically said, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”
“Please proceed,” the elderly priest said.
“I’m just so confused,” Jack began. “I’ve let Ben Harrison and my lust for money, dominate my life for the last twenty years. Now that he’s dead, I have this overwhelming feeling that I’ve been doing something wrong, but I can’t honestly say what it is! I feel like I’ve just been living my life, accumulating and spending as much as I could, without questioning whether it was really right for me.
“Father, I’m sorry I can’t articulate my feelings more, but as I drove up here, the north wind was blowing so fiercely that in between trying to stay out of the ditches, I began to crystallize an idea in my mind—that I really don’t know who I am other than a Native American who’s lived his life essentially in isolation from his people.” …
“Father,” Jack asked, “… what good is all the money I’m making if I feel so alone and out of touch?
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About the Book
Jack Clay has been unhappy for some time. Despite his material wealth and successful career in real estate, he feels trapped and unfulfilled. As a crushing economic recession takes hold of America and his boss suddenly dies, Jack begins to question everything—soon realizing that he does not really know who he is other than a Native American who has lived his life in isolation from his people.
As Wall Street greed and political exploitation of the largest body of fresh water on the planet converge into the ecological splendor of northwest Michigan, Jack faces a series of personal and ethical challenges in which betrayal, death, and a burgeoning romance come together and reconnect him to his Native American culture. As he slowly begins to examine his past achievements in life from the perspective of traditional native wisdom, Jack’s exposure to this distinctly Native American Seven Generations Ethic helps him address the age-old question of how to define a meaningful life..
Heart of a Native is the compelling tale of one man’s journey as he reconnects with his cultural values to combat modern challenges and discover his true destiny.
About the Author
Tom St. Dennis is passionate regarding indigenous American issues and was appointed to the Michigan Indian Legal Services Board of Directors. Tom is a licensed attorney, former corporate CEO, and real estate entrepreneur who currently lives in Manistee, Michigan, with his wife, Julie. This is his debut novel.