More on my friend's journey to Jesus' arms

The Linn County sheriff's office says 16-year-old Merwin S--------- and 19-year-old Normal K-------, both of Kalona, drowned Sunday in the Cedar River at Palisades-Kepler State Park , just south and east of Cedar Rapids, along Highway 30.
The Linn County Sheriff's Department says they and two other teens were rafting just below the dam at Palisades, they later decided to put the rafts on shore and just wade in the water. "A couple of the teenagers got out a little far in the current, got in trouble, the other two were n the process of trying to save them, couldn't get to them quick enough, they got swept out into swifter current and went under," said Captain Rik Haendler. Captain Haendler says that people on the shore as well as some in private boats also attempted to help the two boys.
The Linn Co. Sheriff's Department got the call for help around 3:30 Sunday afternoon. They responded to the scene with a handful of other local, county and state agencies. Together they put nine boats on the water and found the boys' bodies within an hour. Captain Haendler says neither boy was wearing a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket when you are out on the river is something the Sheriff's Department recommends because the river changes every day, making the current very unpredictable.

I'm with Brian. I hardly knew Mer, but I know Janene quite well. Frankly I'm stunned. You hear of these tragic accidents and you think, "oh, that's sad, but it's not going to happen to me or to those I know..." Then you get hit with something like this that totally changes your perspective. I think it's down to that youthful belief that nothing will happen to me. And things like Columbine, Sept 11, and this accident, break down that belief. What happens when our world comes tumbling down? I don't know about you, but this makes me want to get closer to God. It also makes me want to get closer to those friends of mine that might possible not be threr tomorrow...