“Happiness is inward, and not outward; and so, it does not depend on what we have, but on what we are.”         –Henry Van Dyke

What does it take to make you happy?  Is it a gold mine or a gold medal?  Perhaps it is having the newest phone or video games.  Let me tell you that the things of the earth will never satisfy.  Technological advances and revisionism will not, actually cannot satisfy the soul.  The great Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes noting that the things of this world will never satisfy.
Now me, I take satisfaction is a few simple things:  a piece of pie, a cup of coffee, sitting in the cool of the morning with my wife, watching the smiles on the grandkids.  True, these things are still external, but they are something that I don’t go out and seek, they are things I just enjoy.  I recall reading several journals and letters from those who traveled west.  Many of those would write that happiness was a donut (bearsign) or a good cup of coffee or when visiting a home having some jelly to put on a biscuit.  Simple, yet satisfying.
Real, true satisfaction and happiness comes from inside a person.  It is not something conjured up.  It is not something that can be purchased.  It is not something that can be lusted after.  The truth of the matter is that it is something put within the soul of man.  Paul writes, “They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them.”  (Romans 2:15, Amplified)
Don’t give me the cry–legalism.  God expects us to be godly–righteous.  Sure the heart can become insensitive or callous, why do you think there is such an outcry against the law that is written in their hearts?  They cannot get away from it, so they try to subdue it or challenge it or ignore it.  One of the troubles that I see today is that folk of this sort get away with it, whereas in times past they were called to task.  These unspoken responsibilities and duties written on the heart are not for a time and place but for every dispensation in life.  Violators used to be expelled from society, incarcerated, or even judged with death.
I know, I know, we cannot change the world.  However, you can make the place in which you reside a better place.  You can listen to that code written in your heart and fulfill its obligations.  Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments.

“You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.”         –Psalm 16:11 (HCSB)

“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.”

“A man in his life may have many teachers, some most unexpected.  The question lies with the man himself:  Will he learn from them?”      –Louis L’Amour

“Society has adopted the judicial process as its moral yardstick and forfeited common sense and personal responsibility.”       –John Vermillion

Well, it was a week; a good start, and I handed out a few lessons besides academia.  But they came running out of the chute and I had no clue as to what to expect.  Hmmm, that’s not exactly true.  After teaching a few years one kind of gets a sense of what to expect very quickly.  The real proof will be many encounters throughout the year.
Somewhere along this trek there will be nudges, maybe even some obstinance, many successes, and most will relate to attitude and choice.  I even had one already show his colors.  There was a smart aleck who belligerently challenged me so I told him how the cow eats the cabbage.  The next morning he was at my room complaining that he didn’t like the way I yelled at him.  If I didn’t have to get in serious mode right quick it might have made me laugh.  I didn’t even raise my voice to him, but I did give him that “tone.”  This particular morning I told him that I knew how to yell and he could experience it if he so wished.  He declined.
But this is another case of what is happening.  It is alright to be disrespectful, and even apologize later, but don’t dare hurt anyone’s feelings with a reprimand.  What is going to happen when the world smacks him in the face?  Does the world care about your feelings?  I think most of the time it disregards and doesn’t care if you win or lay in the gutter on the side of the street.
I recall the story of a new guy hired on and getting ready to ride out.  He was partnered with an old-timer.   He rode off right in front of the man of experience and in a matter of seconds was on the ground–roped, and tied like a calf.  He learned very quickly that he overstepped his bounds; he had not yet paid the price.  One of the things I see missing lately is the fact that people don’t think they have to pay their dues.  It goes back to that sense of entitlement.  It is important that we teach that there is a price to be paid for success.

“Now Samuel had not yet experienced the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.”         –1 Samuel 3:7 (HCSB)