Black and white; refined in the gray

Theology is easy until it comes face to face with reality. Reality tests and refines our beliefs as we reconcile our experiences, trying to make them fit with our understanding of just who God is.

Loss and grieving causes us to question assurance of salvation.

The answer I find is simple. We preach the thin and narrow path, the eye of the needle that leads to salvation through Jesus Christ, yet at the same time pray for a highway.

Here's to praying for that highway.

Where, O death is your sting?

I believe in the resurrection of the dead,
The forgiveness of sins,
And LIFE everlasting.

There is no easy way to be told of someone's death. The news of a loss results in a wild mix of emotions, from anger to disbelieve to complete and utter brokenness that we experience all within a matter of moments.

Blane was a great man. He had a lighthearted joy about him, that I have rarely experienced from anyone else. I was blessed to spend 2 weeks with him cycling to Cape Breton. The third member in our little peleton said this about Blane, "he was so young. He was so goofy and giddy and pretty comfortable in himself. He never tired or complained. He just rode and added comic relief and lightness to a trip that happened at a heavy time in my life. When I heard the news I sat in silence and darkness I thought, "did I thank him for his lightness?" I think Blane knew that he was a joy and lightness to those around him. The grin on his face was contagious, and his charisma for life was hard to not be a part of.

I consider myself incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful chapter in Blane's life. The memories from our bike trip will last a life time. The trip was his idea, when he first suggested the trip I thought he wasn't quite serious. The nonchalant way he mentioned the trip made me unsure of whether it would happen or not, but it did, and it happened on a grand scale.

I could share memories of the trip out east for hours, I could laugh about how we had to bring a bottle of Ketchup with us because we both loved it so much. About how all we wanted to eat most of the time was brownies, chocolate milk and for Blane Beef Jerky. About how on the longest and hardest day of the trip Blane offered to ride ahead and set up camp, which is an incredible blessing when you feel like you can barely climb the next hill. About how when we reached our destination he got stuck at my Aunt and Uncles house for 2 extra days because the plane he hoped to fly on was full, but again accepted the whole thing in stride. I will forever cherish these memories.

Blane often didn't say a lot, but he didn't need to. His joy was enough.

I will treasure the time I spent on a bike with him. It's amazing the bond that can develop by people who share a passion. C.S. Lewis says that friendship happens when two people realize they are headed in the same direction when they think that they are the only ones in the world who feel that passion. We both had a passion for two wheels, whether it was bicycles or motorcycles we spent hours together talking about them and riding them. Thank you for sharing my passion Blane, thank you for stepping into my life for such a brief time. I wish we could have had the chance to ride another 5000km together, but that wasn't in God's plan.

In the midst of all the suffering scripture came to my mind. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says "Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." We have a saviour who overcame death for our sake, so that we could be seen as blameless before the throne of God. When I see the truth in this, I find my ultimate comfort.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Morden family. I pray that God's grace is enough, that his strength would be your rock and your salvation. I trust and believe that Blane is now eternally worshipping our Father in heaven.

Twenty-one years is a life that is far too short, but my friend Blane died doing what he loved. He died riding his bike. I don't know whether the car just failed to see him, or if the driver was distracted, but regardless, my prayers go out to the driver.

Blane was the safest and most cautious cyclist I knew. He said that he wanted to obey the traffic rules so that drivers would respect him and he did. As I was running lights and stop signs Blane was waiting for for traffic. Blane's mission was cut short but I intend to take it up. I have a new motivation for riding, and a renewed love for friends and family.

Thank you Blane for the lives that you touched that will be forever changed.

Blane you are, and always will be loved and missed.

Ride on my friend, ride on.