WET AND
“The victim loses consciousness, stops struggling, and gives up the rest of their air.”
sunset. “Yo! We need to head back soon if we are still gonna get This description of food,” said Janz drowning became as he dove back into reality to me as I the water and headed slipped under the for the shore. Two of my water. other friends, Jared and Dave, quickly went too, with It all happened during the absurd athletic strength my last year of high school. they still had to keep swimOur senior class went on ming. Thinking I had recova cruise to the Bahamas, ered enough, I too dove into specifically to the island the water as the last person. resort called Coco Cay. We During my swim, I could spent most of the day doing feel all my strength leaving various fun activities like because I was still exhausted. volleyball, foot racing and I’ll try that thing my uncle snorkeling. Toward the taught me, I thought. So I end of the day, a few of my rolled to my back and tried friends and I decided to go floating to rest and gain swimming before it got too strength. But the ocean waves late. We saw wooden pallets prevented this, and eventuanchored out in the ocean for ally I got pulled underwater. us to swim to, and we swam Attempting to get back to to each pallet, going farther the surface, I flailed my arms and farther from the shoreand legs, but it only helped line until we reached the last keep my head bobbing. After one. I don’t think my arms realizing the seriousness of can work after this, I thought the situation, my heart began as I collapsed from exhausto race. tion with my friends. “HELP! HELP! PLEASE, Minutes later, we heard our LIFEGUARD!” I screamed chaperones shouting from louder than ever before shore at everyone to hurry up in my life not knowing if and return to the ship before anyone was around to hear
me. My body became fully submerged and I could feel myself inhaling sea water. The only thing that came to my mind was God. I knew I couldn’t speak but as my mind started getting dizzy I prayed. “Please help me, God! Don’t let this be the end for me! I want to live this life You gave me!” I screamed internally. I could feel my subconscious fading in and out when I suddenly felt a strong hand pull me out of the water and onto a flat board. I gasped for air then started coughing up all the saltwater I had just swallowed. “Whoa! You okay there, son?” asked the lifeguard who had just saved me. Unable to really talk, I nodded and gave a thumbs up. I was taken to shore, where the nurse on duty took care of me. After feeling better, I tried looking for the lifeguard who rescued me, but after asking around, it seemed the lifeguard had disappeared. Whether he was an actual lifeguard or an angel sent by God, I was grateful for what God had done for me. After that experience, my spiritual walk became much more important in my life. I wanted to know why God had saved me, and
when I thought of the question this verse popped into my head: “Don’t fear because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand” (Isa. 41:10, NASB). Just like when Jesus pulled Peter out of the water when the storm was rough, God will pull us out of storms in our lives that are too big for us to handle on our own. And His hand is way stronger than any lifeguard’s.
Shiloh Baillou is a junior communication major at Union College.
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