We used to love summer and its deep, clear blue skies, long, luxurious days and lingering dusks at our northern latitude, and the freedom and ability to explore Montana’s natural heritage -- the small creeks and big rivers, nearby mountainsides, and the coulees and ravines that divide the rolling plains of the eastern part of our state like a math problem.

But let’s face it -- summer’s over.

The sacrifices we chose to make for the betterment of our planet can offer us more reward than we ever imagined losing in the process, but it can take time to identify where your values and actions best align.

Almost anywhere in the state this summer, Montanans can look out their windows to see where things are going if we fail to take effective action to address this crisis: more heat, more drought, more fire, more smoke.

Our region of Montana has warmed from zone “3”in 1988 to zone “4” in just that short time. While a longer and milder growing season is good for the garden, it is not for my soul.

The Earth is all I know

My house is burning alive

I have nowhere to go

I only hold faith that we will survive

We look forward to the radical rest at the end of the day when we know that we have done our job well, progress has been made, and the future looks brighter.