“The Lord will lead us to a place that won’t disappoint.”         –Stephen Bly

“The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail.  Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for.”         –Louis L’Amour

I know there has always been a problem to an extent of a “herd mentality.”  Jump on the bandwagon, everybody’s doing it, way of thinking.  And for some things that may be all right.  However, there is a danger in doing so.  There must be a time in a person’s life when they develop their own minds; when they begin to cultivate their thoughts and not merely roam around mentally.
There are too many folk following the dictates of the media, or following the dictates of opinion, rather than to study and glean from the facts.  It seems that people do not want to make decisions or face the issues; they do not want to take the time to think them through.  That would be nice if life was all meadows and gardens.  But listen, it ain’t!  There are obstacles in life, and what will a person do when they are in their path?  Choices must be made:  go around, go over, remove, return, find another way, or just sit on the road and whimper, “poor little ol’ me.”
The trail of life may be solitary, and in some sense it is, but along that trail others will rub shoulders with you.  Some will push and shove while others give a shrug of who cares, but there are those few that will put their hand on your shoulder to help you through that rough spot in the road.  I like what Louis L’Amour wrote, “Nor does any person stand completely alone in this world, for when he passes he brushes, perhaps ever so slightly, upon others, and each is never quite the same thereafter.”
There will also be decisions to be made on the trail of life.  There is a choice to be made whether to walk in the ways of the world, in darkness, or to follow Christ and walk in His light – the trail of the wicked or the trail of the righteous.  Take some time to read of the “trails” or “paths” found in Proverbs (try the New Living Translation).  They almost all deal with choices.
Now I must disagree somewhat with the quotation by Louis L’Amour.  The end of the trail is the most important, and to get to glory it must be traveled with godliness intent.  True, we must not miss what God has for us as we travel, but we travel to real the end of the road, to reach the destination.  The trail is indeed important, but only as we see eternity in our travels.  It is definitely true, “The Lord will lead us to a place that won’t disappoint.”

“The way of the godly leads to life; their path does not lead to death.”         –Proverbs 12:28 (NLT)

Sometimes the sun seems to be blistering hot.  There are also those days in which the air seems oppressive, heavy, and muggy.  In these modern times we seek relief with the air conditioner, but how about in days past?  Or if you are out working in that situation, what can bring relief?  In my experience I have often sought the relief of a shadow or shade.  It is amazing how much relief that can bring not only to the body, but to the mind.
Have you kept your focus this week?  What is it that helps you get through each day and through each situation that may confront you?  It should be the Cross.  It should be the Cross that helps you get through each day.  Today, I want to finish with Fanny Crosby’s great hymn.  Remember she was blind, but I am positive that she saw more in her blindness than most people see with two good eyes.  Just look at the third verse.

“Near the cross!  O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.”

Life can sometimes be difficult.  The body can take only so much before it is fatigued.  How much can the soul handle?  In the weariness of mind go to the Cross.  In the aftermath of the storm and destruction is rampant, go to the Cross.  When depression and despair come like a flood, go to the Cross.
It is the Cross that keeps us in this life and it will be because of the Cross that we can navigate that final river into the realms of glory.  Oh, but you might say it is grace.  But I will remind you that without the Cross there can be no grace.  It is the victory brought through the Cross that we can hope in that blessed eternity.  We can surely trust Christ because of His victory on the Cross.

“Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.”

If rest is needed go to the Cross.  Take heart, take hope, and stay focused on the Cross.

“In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.”