Customer Reviews

Taken on Trust

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I picked this up at the library because i remember very clearly when Waite was captured and held hostage. What a story. I found myself moved almost to tears by the end, as i thought of Waite and the three other hostages he ended up with, not to mention the many others who were held in Lebanon during the same time. Parenthetically, i do not know what it is that causes me to cry nowadays; is it a function of age? of some increased sensibilities? of a new maturity? Whatever the cause, i now find tears coming to me more and more frequently as i read or see a movie or, even, just think. End diversion. As i read i did wish that the tale was a little less disjointed. I know why it is, and i accept the reasoning behind it; i simply feel that the story was more confusing than it need be. Perhaps if the present (being held in Beirut) had been in a different type-face...? I don't know. Nevertheless, the literary merit of the book is hardly the purpose for reading it. As the story of a man held for almost five years, four of them, i think, alone, this is remarkable. Not once do you get the feeling that Waite is whining (and why shouldn't he? When he first saw his son again after the captivity he saw "a young man I assumed was Mark"), as was the case of the other book i read from the same experience (was it Terry Anderson? i don't remember). One is filled with respect for Waite and the forbearance he shows his captors; i want to reach out and slap them silly, ask them how they could treat a human being in such a way. But he forgives them. How many men could do that? Apparently this servant of God and the Church is one.

I have recently finished listening to Terry Waite's story on audio tape. Waite himself read his story. His story is one of those that I will never forget hearing. The absolute deprivation that he and the other hostages faced during those years is impossible to comprehend. I realize now that so many of us take our lives and our faith for granted. His faith was put completely to the test over those five years. It struck me how he repeatedly stated that his sufferings were nothing compared to the suffering that Jesus endured. Although most of us will never be called to suffer in chains as he and so many others have, it is painfully clear that we must always pray for those that do. I think that all people who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior should read "Taken on Trust."

I am just very perturbed that this book is no longer available as my autographed copy was lost in a theft from our home. Please advise me if there is another printing being considered.

Waite has been much maligned for his motives in trying to help free the Beirut hostages, indeed he has even been accused of being fully aware, possibly complicit, in the arms-to-Iran scandal. That is debateable and I doubt that he was aware. However no one can doubt his courage and compassion when he risked his life in trying to free the hostages. At the personal cost in the end of being a hostage himself.

I read this book straight after reading Nelson Mandela's 'Long Walk To Freedom'. Though not written in the same style, the description of conditions in solitary confinement are very touching. Recommended