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I can't think of any manner of death that would be pleasant, but drowning has to be one of the worst. Contrary to what we think, for someone that can not swim it takes 20 to 60 seconds to drown. Our province, and our own county, has its share of death by drowning.

And as children begin summer breaks and families plan vacations near water, be careful because in North America more than 1,000 children between one and 14 die each year in drowning accidents, according to SAFE KIDS. Most are 10 feet or less from safety. Actions taken within 10 seconds of water entry usually determine survival or death. If this article proves a note of caution for summer swimmers, that is fine. Swimming too, is called the silent killer.

A trip ominously dubbed "The Final Descent" was organized by officials and all participants were Slovenians. Slovenia is in central Europe, by the eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia It was to be the last ride down that section of the river, which will soon be blocked by the hydroelectric plant in southeastern Slovenia. The town mayor, a member of Slovenia Parliament, was in one of the two large canoes with others that, for the fun of it, decided to run over a low dam under construction, that was a little below water level. It was a fatal decision, and unfortunately for them, a final one.

Slovenian TV showed chilling footage of the canoes entering the dam, followed by the sound of terrifying screams, as canoes capsized and broke apart. throwing the helpless occupants to the mercy of the swirling waters. Those large powerful water turbines at the hydro dam would suck those poor people under the water almost immediately, carrying them and holding their lifeless bodies at the feeder gates.

More than 15 divers combed the river, trying to find survivors or bodies. A police helicopter flew over the area while police, civil protection and fire services swept the river banks. Prime Minister Janez Jansa rushed to the site, declaring the accident a "great tragedy" and assured the observers in total shock, they were doing everything humanely possible. The mayor was member of Parliament as well, so Slovenian parliament cancelled its session that day.

The ‘Final Descent' was to be a fast trip, but they didn't expect it to be the last one for eight precious souls. I have to remind you that we were all born on the ‘Final Descent' on a road that leads rapidly and radically to a place none of us want to go. In Deuteronomy 32:29, the people were told ‘O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!' Have you considered your latter end? The Lord told us we can get off that ‘Final Descent' by coming to him for salvation, and entering the narrow road that leads upward to Heaven.

Two other canoes made a wise decision, and that was to break from the ‘The Final Descent.' Whether laughed at or not, no one is laughing now. Christians can be laughed at, but who cares? So nice to know and have the assurance from the Word of God, going through the turbulent waters of life itself, that when this life is over, we will be safe on the other shore.

In Matthew 14:30, the apostle Peter, a strong rugged fisherman, was found going down what could have been his ‘Final Descent' but he cried in time, ‘Lord save me,' and the Lord saved him from a watery grave. Peter will write after the Lord had died on Calvary, and let me close with his words in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."