In a distant field a man sleeps and dreams a dream that inspires and motivates. It is many colored and many faceted, like a diamond but more rare and beautiful. It begs for loving hands and loving hearts to make it grow. The morning sun wakes him and the love from his dream slowly fades and he hears the birds welcome the morning sun.

He hears the wind blowing through the trees rustling the leaves. He hears the echoes of the path he follows. He sees the runners ahead of him and he is no closer than when he started. He inhales deeply; he gathers his strength and follows the path once again. He knows it will lead somewhere higher, ascending, lifting him to a higher place. He starts slowly but soon he has hit full stride following the footprints of all those that came this way. As he turns and starts down the hill he finds no more tracks to follow.

His map ends at this place; the runners ahead have disappeared. He looks to the trees and all the animals are no longer around. The wind turns cold, he finds no shelter. He starts crying believing that he has lost his way. He falls to the ground and finally sleeps after hours of heartache. His dream returns and many voices fill his mind, all raging pointing in different directions. Some are laughing at him, others sad at his predicament.

But in all this clamor a soothing sitting figure just smiles at him. He shouts and rages in his mind till all the voices quell their torrent of words. He asks the kindly looking man "Why are you so peaceful in this insanity?" The man smiles and winks, "This is your world you created it and you destroy it as you do with this path" he smiles and fades away.

He finds himself standing in front of a black wall with millions of names. A dark figure approaches, more shadow than solid, silently studying him and he starts writing on the wall. Intrigued by this he looks over to see his name written perfectly. He asks the dark figure, "How do you know my name?" "You are one of these." Before he could ask, the dark figure becomes a shadow and disappears.

Suddenly feeling helpless he starts running feeling the cold wind burning his face, feeling the trees and branches tear at his skin. The first rain drops fall on his face and wake him. He is startled to find that all the trees have become black and the sky like dark smoke waiting to release its waters on the land and sweep everything aside.

He walks up a hill to look for his path. He sees many runners, some running in circles others changing paths at every turn but none gaining on the other. He laughs and falls to his knees. As his laughter turns to tears all things in his life seem to be untrue. All that is false is true. He wonders why God let him run this path so blindly. He tears at the ground pulling the grass by the roots and throwing them down the hill.

He feels a soft hand on his shoulder and he looks up to see a soft gentle smile and caring soul. "Why do you cry? You have not left the path." Through his sobs he shouts back "What path? This is just a circle with no end or beginning. This path no longer leads to heaven or earth but the void." The gentle stranger helps him rise and points him to the beautiful sky just ahead. "Run till you see the light of creation and feel the warmth of God."

Clearing his eyes he faintly sees a trail through the woods, he starts walking. Echoes of his past reverberate through his mind, flashes of family and friends and teachers that have loved him. He hears the songbirds singing their praises to God. The trees gently sway in the warm breeze. Happiness makes it way into his heart and he feels no urge to run. He realizes that a path without love leads no where.

Andy Placeres is a resident of Lenexa, KS. He has been writing poems and short stories since he was 12. He uses his creative talents to balance his career as a computer technician.