Every once in a while, we all get a wake-up call. We got one last week that felt like an air-raid siren.

Last week, while my 15 year-old son was at camp, he came very close to drowning. This was his second year at this camp, and each year they've had this thing called "The Blob" a ways off shore. It's a big inflatable, and the object is for one kid at a time to sit on The Blob, and someone heavier jumps onto it from whatever it is they jump from, and the smaller kid goes flying into the lake. It would cause most of us to age another 10 years, but the kids love it.

Joel was trying to swim out to it so that he could have his own turn flying through the air and then experiencing the pain of smacking into the water. He decided to "take the long way," but about 10 feet from the inflatable began feeling his chest constricting and was having a very hard time breathing. He also began to lose the ability to move his limbs. His friends called to the lifeguard, who apparently didn't think he was in enough distress to warrant a rescue. She turned away (yes, she really did), and Joel's friend, Connor, who isn't the strongest swimmer, either, jumped into the water to save him. He made it out to Joel and pulled him back to the dock. It took Joel awhile before he was breathing properly, but eventually was just fine.

I didn't find out about this until he came home Friday, and tried very hard not to freak out in front of him. So many things went through my mind at once: God is good; God has a plan for Joel; I almost lost my son; good Lord, we almost got "the call" that every parent dreads...etc.

All I know is that our son was given back to us, and it is only by God's mercy. What if Connor hadn't seen Joel? What if no one had? Needless to say, Connor has earned a very special place in our hearts, and always will have it, for what he did. A side note: Joel and Connor were born at the same hospital within 2 days of each other.

And yes, the camp will be hearing from me about that lifeguard. I should have called sooner, I know, but Bethany's been sick all week, and terribly clingy.

I took Joel to the doctor yesterday to ask about his symptoms, and we were told he has "exercise-induced asthma." Dr. Anderson said it's quite common; in fact, he sees about 2 cases of it per week in his office. Even some Olympic athletes have it, he said. He gave Joel 2 inhalers, though he said just one of them will probably last him the rest of his life (they're 200 uses each). Joel is supposed to use it if he knows he'll be exerting himself, whether it's jogging around the block, wrestling with his brother, or swimming out to The Blob.

Right now he's on his mission trip. Please keep him and the whole group in your prayers.