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Be Free and Fly
Drums of a Distant Tribe is a memoir that weaves together moments of joy, recklessness, grief, and revelation, sharing with readers your story of survival, resilience, and the search for truth about life and what may come after death. Why was this an important book for you to write?
From the Book, Drums of a Distant Tribe: A Son’s Message from the Great Beyond:
As I reflect on this amazing journey, I realize I’ve been visited by nothing less than miracles that prove the greatest gift to mankind is real. Perhaps we should not be so surprised. Those who chose to follow Jesus in antiquity reported many miracles. The Gospel of Mark 16:20 says, “And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”
When these followers experienced miracles, they felt compelled to report what they witnessed. This, I also feel compelled to do. I cannot keep this to myself. But how can I tell this story in a way that will make sense to others? I can only do my best to explain these events as accurately as possible to help others during their challenging test of life.
Perhaps a message I received on Wailea Beach after discovering the Church of New Beginnings explains this sense of responsibility better than I can. As I read old notes from a special evening under the glow of torches, protected now in a plastic bag and only being weathered slightly from hours spent on the beach and the many years that have transpired between, and looking like they had been penned yesterday, I notice the following entry: “You are beginning to see the good in what your life has come to. So, you will see the greatness in our experiences . . . Be like a freedom fighter . . . The tide on Earth is changing. Catch the wave and help to pioneer a new consciousness . . . Your pen will fly with the excitement of many souls. And like the crashing of waves on the massive rocks of the shore that slowly break them into sand, our words will reduce the rigid structure of conventional wisdom and help to create a palette that will form the foundation of life’s effervescent force.”
I ask, “Why is it important that we share these experiences with others? People are set in their ways, and most will dismiss our words.”
“There are important reasons. It is part of evolution. It is a path toward order. It is a path toward goodness. It is for relief of suffering and the pursuit of wisdom. The quest is endless, but it is the quest that is important . . . Act with love and there will be love. Quest for truth, and there will be truth. Search for beauty, and there will be beauty. To share our experiences is to spread the joy and happiness we found. This in itself is the reason. What becomes of this knowledge after we share it is like asking, ‘What happens to a beam of light?’ Nothing and everything. It is still just a beam of light. The fact that it is light is what is important . . . this light will survive into eternity, it is its own end . . . Thus, it is with our work. Even those who do not believe will be illuminated by it. They may not recognize it, but they will benefit, whether consciously or not. . . May the light we shine illuminate the darkness!”
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Life tends to be overwhelming and out of our control at times. I think it’s important to take a step back periodically and view the picture as someone who will survive all the challenges and come out the other side. Hopefully this book will help provide that perspective.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging part of writing this book was doing the subject material justice. After all, those much greater than I have already covered the important part of the message. The most rewarding part of writing the book was doing an honest job of telling the story. Whether I told it effectively is up for the reader to decide. But I am satisfied that what I have written is an accurate description of the events that occurred.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I hope that the readers can relate personally to the story and gain a sense of freedom from the message that we will survive; the afterlife is real. “It’ll be alright. It’ll be alright. Be free and fly.”
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Walk slowly lest you miss your turn in the forest.
Drums of a Distant Tribe – A Son’s Message from the Great Beyond
When I first opened Drums of a Distant Tribe by David H. Hutton, I expected a memoir of sorts, maybe a straightforward walk through one man’s life. What I found instead was something much richer. The book moves through the author’s childhood, his brushes with danger, his youthful adventures, his confrontation with the Vietnam draft, and the long search for meaning after deep personal loss. It weaves together moments of joy, recklessness, grief, and revelation. At its heart, it’s a story about survival, resilience, and the search for truth about life and what may come after death.
Reading it felt like sitting across from someone who has lived more lives than most people can imagine. Hutton’s writing is vivid, sometimes poetic, sometimes raw, and always deeply personal. I admired how he captured the energy of his youth, from climbing water towers to chasing music that defined a generation. At the same time, I felt his fear and despair when the draft threatened to cut his life short, and later, when tragedy struck his family. The way he blends memory with reflection is emotionally potent. It reminded me that even ordinary choices can ripple through a lifetime, and that sometimes the line between recklessness and courage is paper-thin.
What struck me most was the honesty. He doesn’t hide from the ugly moments or try to paint himself as a flawless hero. The vulnerability in his storytelling gave the book a real pulse. At times, I found myself frustrated by his choices, then just as quickly, I felt protective of him, like I was watching a close friend stumble and get back up. His reflections on faith and death are heavy but not preachy. They feel like someone thinking aloud, searching alongside the reader rather than teaching from a pulpit. That humility, mixed with the depth of his experiences, gave the book an emotional weight.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys personal memoirs that are more than just a recounting of events. It’s especially powerful for those curious about the Baby Boomer generation, the turmoil of the 1960s and 70s, and the lifelong search for meaning that follows. But really, it’s for anyone who wants to be reminded that life is fragile, that survival is never guaranteed, and that hope can come even after the darkest nights. Drums of a Distant Tribe is not just one man’s story. It’s a mirror, and reading it made me take a hard look at my own.
Pages: 203 | ASIN : B0C1HJF3WZ
LITERARY TITAN 