Title: Soul Revision
Description: Richard Esterle wanted to take his own life, and to spare his loved ones pain, he decided to make it look like a snorkeling accident. But instead of dying,he experienced something extraordinary. His gripping tale involves a miraculous escape from drowning during nine hours out in the ocean, virtually paranormal synergy with sharks, and uniquely fascinating insights into earthly life--insights that will truly resonate with listeners in "aha" moments.Esterle's ordeal became a statewide news story in Hawaii in 1999. But the ways in which it transformed him couldn't be captured in any news account. To hear Esterle relay the minute-by-minute, unpredictable twists of the incident in his mesmerizing voice is to realize that he was meant to return from his suicide attempt and share his newfound knowledge with others.Some of the most important questions Esterle raises are: Are we as a species on a suicide track?  Are we slated for a “soul revision”?  To him, we can’t kill our neighbors without killing ourselves.  Every day we happily add to the powder keg of destruction of our planet, but it’s time to reverse our direction and change the collective through the power of the individual.How does a man spend nine hours in the open ocean, six of them after dark, with relative ease and no fear? What set of circumstances would lead up to such an occurrence? How does a man discover that in trying to drown himself in a shark-filled ocean he saves himself?What do I mean by this?I'll tell you...On December 19th 1999, I went snorkeling off the northern tip of the Big Island of Hawai'i near my home. It was 3pm when I got in the water and midnight when I returned. I had been miles out to sea. This is my story...HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT NORTH KOHALA PATROL DISTRICT DECEMBER 19, 1999A snorkeler reported missing Sunday evening (December 19, 1999) in waters off Kapa'a Beach Park made it safely back to shore at Mahu-kona Beach Park in North Kohala after being swept out to sea and swimming for several hours.Ivan Esterle, 45, of Ainakea, North Kohala, had gone to Kapa'a Beach Park about 4 p.m. for a half-hour of snorkeling in the bay while his wife, Cynthia, 44, waited in their car at the park. While snorkeling, Esterle was swept out to sea. When he failed to return by dark, his wife became concerned and called police about 6 p.m.. A search assisted by two helicopters and a Kona fire rescue boat between Kapa'a and Mahu-kona Beach Parks was conducted, but suspended at 9:45 p.m. after it failed to turn up any trace of the snorkeler. After being swept out to sea, however, Esterle managed to stay afloat and reached shore in good condition about midnight Monday at Mahu-kona, about one-and-a-half miles from Kapa'a.
Subjects: Biography & Autobiography, Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality