By Rick Rodriguez
I've always been attracted to stories where the element of survival is stretched to the extreme. This book is all about that and then some. It's the story of Captain Gerald R. Coffee, a POW, in the Vietnam War. It's the true story of Captain Coffee's capture and fight for survival in a POW camp. It's also the story of the human will to fight and survive under the most dire circumstances.
I first learned of Captain Coffee's story at sales retreat that I attended. There, Mr. Coffee, entertained us with his story but also shed the light on the risks posed by those in our armed forces. He chronicled his experiences including torture, starvation, brain-washing, and every other atrocity the mind can imagine under these hostile conditions.
Beyond Survival Gerald R. Coffee " The only real security we have is the certainty that we're equipped to handle whatever happens to us. Too often we try to build strength through position, possessions, family and friends, social and religious rituals--all the outer trappings by which we form our identities. Stripped of them all, we have to draw on what is left: our basic sense of identity as human beings. From there true security is born." Often, I think back to when I scribbled these words down in my journal (1993), and how they became important when I slipped and fell in one of the many pitfalls I confronted. It's especially important in these times where possessions seem to be where we draw our strength from. Strip of them all! What's left? Just me and frankly that's all I need. With this knowledge, I can focus on the problem at hand and know that I've got what it takes to confront it!
I read this book in 1993. And, I have to stay that this book along with several others I read at the time inspired me to take on new challenges and fight off others. In some ways, through Captain Coffee's experiences, the book, forced me to take a look at my own life. Instead of asking why me (?), I began to explore new ideas like "show me, lord?" Beyond Survival Gerald R. Coffee "When we cannot change a situation, resolution comes through the way we choose to handle it within ourselves. To let go is not to deny but to accept. Letting go moves us beyond the unproductive lament of "what if?" and "why me, Lord?" To the constructive acceptance of "what is" and "show me, lord!"
I never really knew the purpose of writing book reviews (hand written) in my journal (s) back in the early nineties. But now, I guess, the reasons are clear to me. Perhaps, by re-reading what I wrote back then--I can reuse--the ideas now! But, also I can share here in my blog. My hope is that I inspire you to read this book! It's truly an inspiring story of true American Hero!
