Hello ,
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, every day about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the U.S. But there's at least one huge misconception about drowning: Many people
assume that a drowning person will splash, yell, and wave for help. Wouldn't you? And isn't that what's often portrayed on movies and TV?
Actually, drowning is far from obvious. A report from The Journal of U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue has identified the "Instinctive Drowning Response." When someone is drowning, the person will instinctively display the following five
characteristics:
- Except in rare cases, drowning people are physically unable to call for help. That's because we're designed to breathe first and speak later.
- Drowning people can't stay above the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call for help.
- Drowning people cannot wave for help. They are forced to extend their arms laterally and press down on the waters' surface.
- Drowning people cannot voluntarily move toward a rescuer or reach out for a piece of rescue equipment.
- Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water for 20 to 60 seconds before sinking.
The Coast Guard emphasizes that the Instinctive Drowning Response is triggered by a host of autonomic nervous system responses. In other words, it is completely involuntary, unlearned, and
unavoidable.
As I read this fascinating and tragic information, my mind moved toward the spiritual realm. The similarities between drowning people, and people who struggle spiritually is amazing to
me.
After being in the position of "spiritually drowning" in life, I have come to appreciate the work of Godly friends who helped to "pull" me out of the self-destructive vortex from which I could not "pull" myself. Through friends that truly cared, and because of
Christ's amazing grace and love, I have found "new life" in Christ that gets sweeter as the day goes by.
We are called to be spiritual "lifeguards." In my opinion, it's a serious mistake to suppose that we can go through life (while people spiritually struggle around us,) without a thought or care for their
plight.
What may God be calling YOU to do for him today? May He give each of us a measure of grace to carry out our "lifeguard" duties!
Have a great day and God bless!
Pastor Mike / The Open Word
