The older I get, the more I realize how little time I have left. Whenever someone I know passes on, the stronger that realization becomes. "What is man...? He appears for a little while, like the morning fog and then vanishes in an instant under the bright morning sun." All right, that's not exactly how it goes, but the essence is identical.

Any road, now is not the time to draw back, hunker down, and put our dreams and visions away because our time grows shorter every day. Au contraire, we need to push ahead, perhaps accelerate the pace, certainly keep the goal in mind. Who knows? With enough time and by the grace of God, we may actually achieve what we set out to do.

I think of Phyllis and the house she is building or Bob's business. Dreams! At one time these were dreams, but by maintaining faith and working toward them one day at a time, the dreams are beginning to come alive. My best to both of you.

In some way or another, all of us have these dreams that we want to see. Mine is to live in the mountains, to build a log cabin the old-fashioned way, using modern conveniences, of course, like a chain saw or a concrete mixer. I'm not totally insane. I have a large map of Montana taped to the wall above my computer, with a smaller poster beside it which reads

Montana


or Bust!

Will I make it? Will I ever get there? The answer, of course, has to be a resounding, unequivocal, "Yes, absolutely!" It has to be or I never will. If I don't build that dream, make it happen, in the time I have left, who will?

God willing, I'll see it through.