The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-09-23
FINDING THE WAY.

There are certain times in life when for
all our opportunities We seem only to drift
along. We slip our anchor chains, as 1t
were. and until we find ourselves again we
are never sure Of what We do. There are
many reasons, naturally, for such condl-
ton but as rule it is the consequence OF
some shock or emotional upheaval. 1t is
only temporary, except IN unusual cases,
while it lasts life loses much of its bright
ness and we become objects OF pity and
evenof self commiseration. Comparatively
few persons pass their lives just as they
had anticipated. 1t is only natural to con-
jure up bright pictures of the happiness
that lies in store for US, happiness which
embraces many varying conditions IN life
and always Of the kind that centers around
our personal interests. In early youth
when imagination ripens we like to fancy
ourselves as doing only the Things that
appeal especially TO US and never by any
manner Of means being forced to act con-
trary to our individual wishes. 70 the
immature mind happiness seems easy to
attain and easier still to hold. Indeed, we
look upon it as natural inheritance and
accept it in its different forms only as d
matter of course. We consider our bless
ings more in the nature of rights than as
special privileges and we cannot picture
ourselves as ever being obliged to get along
without them. Yet the time comes when
we are called upon to surrender many OF the
finer, higher influences Of life, influences
perhaps that We do not appreciate while we
possess them, but which play far more
important part in our lives than we imagine.
Such influences take many different forms
and nearly always they reach deeply into
our personal lives. Consequently when
they are taken from US and we begin to
realize that life must continue without them,
that we must strive to live dependentIy Of
them, that notwhh standing the fact that we
regarded them as essential to our welfare
we must nevertheless do without them, the
very weakness of our natures frequently
makes US lose our hold upon life for a time
at least, and it is in such circumstances
that We get into the habit of merely drift
ing on from one day to another.
The man who does this, however, only
Furnishes himself unnecessarily. He makes
his burdens heavier to bear and prolongs
his unhappiness instead of making every
effort to rise superior to his adversely and
become reconcied as far as possible to the
new conditions. Unquestionably it is hard
to find the way when darkness sets in, but
there is way out of every difficulty if we
only make up our minds to find it. 1t n1ay
be that in our search We come across many
unknown little paths and byways which
lead into the open fields of happiness and
at first, because ofthe unfamiliar surround
ings, we may not care to take advantage
of them, especially if they do not appeal
strongly to us. However, time will tell the
story and he who forces himself to choose
one Of the new ways may also OBTAIN for
himself some new adventure which will
bring its full share of JOY. Sorrows set
tings are ever dark but there is always the
tiny pearl Of at least one joy hidden away
in their shadows and in searching for the
way out it is not improbable that we shall
be able to gather an unexpected happiness
to our hearts.
The loss Of some of the greater blessings
of life does not necessarily mean continued
unhappiness. The shock of the loss stuns
US for the time being and makes existence
seem almost worthless, but with times
healing processes LIES bitterest adjust
ments are eventually made, and once with
out the shadows it is surprising to know
that there is still brightness enough fol
everybody. Ii we are deprived of one in.
teFeSG tIci6 atC d UOLttI OtllGFS VI WHICH VIZ
can avail ourselves, not one Of them, proba
bly,, able to replace that which has gone
forever, but all of them capable of yielding
much sweetness and affording healthy oc.
cupation. The way out Of sorrow is neve
easy to find particularly when the loss still
cuts to the quick, but later on when time
and conditions dull the keen edge it is GU
duty to help all we can in the readjustmen
SO necessary to our welfare.
Aslong as we are Indifferent to our highe
duties and manifest no interest in them WI
shall continue to drift with the currents
miserable because of our loss and mserabl
because we do not permit ourselves to con
centrate our minds upon the more mani
testify important things of life. The bless
ings that have been taken away, no matte
in what form they gladdened life, nee
never lose their influence upon US. TO
memory keeps them fresh always. Tha
they were unnecessary to our existence
however essential they we're to our happi
ness, events prove over and over again
and If we can only make up our minds t
accept their loss in all humility We sha
be surprised to learn that we can at leas
bear the cross with greater resignation
Finding the way is not only necessary
our material we'll being bat it helps us int
the happiness that is waiting somewher
for US.
Reunion of Confederate Veterans.