William Walthall

The Range of Light William Walthall

Lieutenant Luke Mathias, a Navy pilot, is caught up in the throes of the Vietnam War. Dangerous missions and close calls cause him to question the validity of the war and his role in it. He escapes his fears and frustrations by living the life of a prodigal son. A miraculous and inexplicable event in Hong Kong, unfortunately, does little to change his self-serving, narcissistic lifestyle. However, when he is shot down, forewarned in a dream, he decides to leave the Navy and find himself. While on a backpacking trip in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, Luke experiences another inexplicable encounter that causes him to rethink his life and his relationship to God. The result is a spiritual transformation, and Luke decides to devote his life to helping others through medicine. The demands of medical training, unexpected temptations, and unforeseen losses constantly threaten Luke's spiritual journey toward Christian maturity and fulfilling his dream of becoming a medical missionary. On a medical mission trip to the Philippines, however, Luke meets and falls in love with Sierra. Their life together nearly ends, though, when Sierra becomes gravely ill. It is his unconditional, sacrificial love for her that becomes the defining bond that finally helps Luke become the compassionate servant of God he has always wanted to be.