A tribute to two boys

If there's a silver lining lurking in the death of two Coeur d'Alene teens last weekend, please, show yourself.

Even now, with services scheduled today and tomorrow for Devon Austin, 19, and Ryan Reinhardt, 18, it feels like the best that can be hoped for is numbness where there is just plain pain.

We're sorry, but we can't even begin to think that the circumstances leading up to the fatal crash that claimed these two popular young men will serve as a stern reminder to others and perhaps save them from similar fates. Throughout the week, we have heard and even uttered tales ourselves about "There but for the grace of God go I." Generations of young people have made similar choices countless times, but most of them - of us - lived to tell about it. Tragically, we will never hear another word from these two fine young men.

And yes, we can call them fine young men. All week long we have heard from people who knew them best, and we can say that from all these reports, any parent would be proud to call Devon or Ryan their son.

Hard work, an eagerness to improve and to help others, and maybe most of all a zeal for life will serve as hallmarks for Ryan and Devon. We've looked through file photos of the boys as Coeur d'Alene High School athletes and recounted interviews with them. The photos and the stories are replete with images of unbridled joy, of unharnessed enthusiasm.

Perhaps services for the boys will help the healing begin. Devon's life will be celebrated today at 11 at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls. Tomorrow at the same time and place, Ryan will be remembered.

Then it will take time. Had they lived, there's little doubt Devon and Ryan would have made the world a slightly better place. Without them, it's feeling pretty empty right now.