AUTHOR: SALIDOR C. COETZEE. BOOK TITLE: The NAKED T.R.U.T.H.

This book is dedicated to the world’s most vulnerable people who suffer from atrocities stemming from wars, poverty, addictions, and foremost those who were infected by or died because of the COVID-19 coronavirus. A manmade virus that originated from different bio labs across the world. The virus spread rapidly, creating immense havoc, sparing no country or human being. A virus without borders.

 

Time for introspection and reflection. Time for a psychological and spiritual makeover; time to remove idols from our midst and honor one God, the God of Adam and Eve, God of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac. God the Greatness, God the Oneness and God the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The story of Abraham is retold in the book from a Christian Biblical perspective and a Muslim belief, the Quran perspective. A constructive attempt to align and bridge the divides between nations during these difficult, testing times. We are indeed living in the time of the BIG LIE.

 

The author fulfils his commitment and promise made to God as a young boy. A commitment to spread God’s message of hope and love into the world; to bridge the cultural divide, and promote care for the poor and homeless. Like the COVID-19 coronavirus, God’s grace, love, and forgiveness have no borders. The world is in desperate need of a spiritual cure and revival. A world constantly in chaos and turmoil, instigated and promulgated by politicians, business and country leader’s unethical behaviors. Hearts and minds contaminated by a deadly infected ‘cancerous’ disease; a mix of power, fame, lust, arrogance, and greed. Fraudulent and corrupt hearts and minds, an extremist philosophy and theology in its own existence.

 

The author sadly lost his wife in 2010 due to breast cancer. After his wife passed away, he lived and worked for seven years of his career as a cost engineer for a large oil-and-gas company in Saudi Arabia. He also previously worked as Financial Manager for a Joint Venture (JV) company in Iran, called Arya Sasol Polymer Company (ASPC). The ASPC company was 50% owned by oil-and-gas company National Petroleum Company (NPC) Iran and 50% by Sasol South Africa.

 

The author had the joy and fulfilment of visiting many countries during his short life, apart from working and living in Saudi Arabia and Iran. A journey always has a starting and a finishing point. Starting life from fertilization to an unborn fruit in the womb of your mother until you pass on to something much bigger, eternal life in the presence of God, the Creator. The purpose of life “Born to be Reborn Again”.

 

In the book, Saudi Arabia and Iran are extensively discussed to provide insight to the reader. The two countries are uniquely different, but in many ways the same. The author attempts to give the reader a glimpse of life as an expatriate worker in both countries, Saudi Arabia, and Iran—a journey never to forget or to regret; a humble, faithful, committed contribution towards mankind, in a dynamic and diverse way, in a dynamic multicultural environment.

 

In some instances, the author feels obliged to speak the truth, and only the truth, because truth matters. For the sake of reflection, admission, repentance, and necessary corrective action by business leaders, politicians, and governments alike; to take a leaf from the author’s book of life.

 

The Leadership Challenge are discussed, using Nelson Mandela, a previous president of South Africa as an example to explain the concept of Servant Leadership. Few images in history are more powerful than that of Nelson Mandela; fist raised in a dignified grey suit, walking after his release from 27 years of imprisonment, his short walk to freedom. Mandela was only 44 years old when he was given a life sentence by the apartheid regime for his leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), an organization outlawed by the South African government for its anti-apartheid actions and positions.

 

The last two chapters deal with the author’s personal experiences as an expatriate worker in Iran and Saudi Arabia, respectively. Two countries uniquely different, because of their deeply rooted differences in religion and cultures, but more so because of greed and love for oil. Oil also referred to as black gold.

 

A JOURNEY NEVER TO

FORGET OR TO REGRET