HOW WE MET

JANE & BRENT

Most people can recall their first love. I never forgot mine. It was a sunny spring day in 1970 and I was careening down a ski run on Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain. My arms were bare to the breeze, ponytail flying free, and life was the best. Before I’d reached the bottom of the hill, it got even better. From out of the blue, I literally (and figuratively) fell head-over-heels with a guy I’d one day marry – but not for another 24 years.

As teens, our relationship moved quickly from casually curious to continuously connected. Brent was at my family home so much, I’m sure my parents wondered if they’d adopted a son.

I had dated other guys, but Brent was different from the rest. I attributed it to his strong faith. Although I’d been raised Christian, his belief in the healing power of prayer was new to me. I was going to be a nurse and wondered how it would fit into my future devotion to the medical practice. How could healing happen through metaphysics when our bodies were made up of bones, muscles and physical substance?

Though skeptical, the longer we dated, the more I became intrigued. As well as witnessing several healings, I was drawn to Brent’s innate joy and love for life. He meditated daily and it was evident that his oneness with Spirit was the most important aspect of his life. But after two years, just prior to beginning my nursing program, we felt compelled to part ways due to our differing beliefs.

Nursing was a good fit for me, yet throughout the following years of clinical practice, I often thought about the healing power of prayer, especially when medical outcomes were grim. I believe it’s what many of us do – when all else fails, take our thought to a higher place and ask for help. Regardless of the outcome, I often felt some comfort in thinking this way.

Brent and I ended up marrying different people and starting families. Then, in 1993, when we were both struggling in our relationships, our paths crossed again. Within a couple of years, we were back on Grouse Mountain, exchanging our vows and pledging to respect our differences.

Serendipity? Destiny? Prayer? Now, after being happily married for the past 26 years, I’m pretty sure the latter had a lot to do with it!

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