Blaze of Light

With all the uncertainty and fear in our world currently, a story of hope and survival is just what is needed.  Blaze of Light, the story of Green Beret medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor recipient is just this...a story of hope.
Blaze of Light written by Marcus Brotherton tells the story of Gary Beikirch, a Vietnam veteran whose bravery and loyalty to the armed forces earned him the most prestigious award, The Medal of Honor. It is "the highest US military decoration, awarded by Congress to a member of the armed forces for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty." as defined by Dictionary.com.
I received Blaze of Light from the Waterbrook and Multnomah publishing as part of a launch team for an honest review.
Beikirch's heroism in Vietnam extended to the treatment he received from the public when he returned home suffering from his wounds.  One might think that his Green Beret training was only used in combat, but sadly he used it also to sustain himself dealing with the ignorance of the general public at the time, to endure the abuse our soldiers faced on the home front.
He began his military career as a man with no faith, he evolved through the turmoil as a man of great faith, attending seminary and ministering to many as a pastor, as well as a counselor in schools, hospitals, prisons, and the Veterans Outreach Center.
The driving theme of Beikrich's story is the ultimate survival through God's grace. A quote from Beikrich, at a pregame ceremony in Atlanta at a Brave's baseball game, seems to say it all, he says, "My story is God's story.  This medal is not about me.  This medal is about Him.  without God's grace, I wouldn't have been able to survive Vietnam.  Without forgiveness in my life, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.  Without his love, I wouldn't have healed from my wounds.  This medal is about Him and I wear it for His honor."
If you need a break from the strife and worry of the world and want to see that through strife comes endurance, read Blaze of Light by Marcus Brotherton.  You will be uplifted.