Around 1903, William T. Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Society, approved an order for a tree native to Asia.  The tree was to be delivered to the Bronx Zoo to be displayed alongside many other specimens collected from around the world.  Hornaday's goal was to raise public appreciation for natural ecology.

Six months later, a man working on the New York harbor docks unloaded a small wooden crate.  Inside the crate was a four foot tall Chinese Chestnut tree.

But the alien sapling was not alone.  Also inside the crate lurked a deadly blight.  The primary target of the blight was the mighty sequoia of the east, the American Chestnut tree. 

The American Chestnut was the king of Appalachia.  The tree soared up to 120 feet high with a trunk as wide as 17 feet.  Its durable wood was used to build everything from cabins to hope chests. 

The tree also bore nuts that were both sweet and nutritious.  They were harvested and shipped by train to New England where chilled holiday shoppers purchased them from the flaming grills of street vendors.  In 1946, after most of the trees were destroyed, Nat King Cole immortalized those innocent years with the words "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire".

Not only did American Chestnuts have practical uses, they also possessed an intrinsic beauty.  Their cream-colored blossoms were called a "Summer Snow" since they appeared to blanket ridge tops with frosty white crystals when they emerged in the months of June and July. 

Yet the blight was relentless.  Advancing twenty-four miles per year, it devastated trees from New York to Mississippi and beyond.  By 1953 their destruction was complete.  After reigning for millenniums, the American Chestnut was no more.

Though Hornaday may have unwittingly been instrumental in the demise of the American Chestnut, his noble efforts to enlighten his fellow citizens cannot be discounted.  Also, to his credit, he is attributed with saving the American Bison from extinction.   

Still, the glory of the American Chestnut is now just a memory due to his unfortunate error, despite the good he had intended.

Clearly, purposing good does not mean that positive results will follow, and, as in the case of the American Chestnut, the results may even be tragic.

But how do we know if we are actually achieving good?   Only God knows.  The prophet Isaiah said it this way:
  
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:9

It is impossible for human intellect to fathom the mind of an omniscient God.  Therefore, outside what is scripturally obvious, the good path - God's will for our separate and distinct lives - is undetectable.  Well, not entirely.  It may  be undetectable by us but not by God.

Perhaps the next verse offers some insight. 

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psa 119:105.

Imagine walking down a dark country road on a moonless night with no street lamps to guide you.  Your only source of lighting is a small hand-held lantern that shines just far enough ahead to illuminate the path and your next footstep.

You have no blazing torch to brighten your way.  Just this humble little lantern.  Yet it is sufficient.  

If we are truly on God's path, is it necessary to know our destination or even what tomorrow may hold?  Trusting God should be enough.

At the age of six, I can remember walking through the heart of New York City with my parents and two young sisters.  It was a big, scary place with buildings like mountains and firetrucks flying down streets like screeching dragons.  I did not understand where we were going, but I felt safe because I was with my dad.

With God, our confidence in him should be even greater.  The big question is:  how do we know we are on heaven's path?

Some may say, if you are following God you will have peace.  Yes, but sometimes the trials of life can come crashing upon you like a tsunami.

Christ agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane over his imminent death on the cross.  David, as the future king of Israel, suffered great distress while being pursued by Saul and his men. 

In the wilderness, David looked to the heavens and cried out.

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?  O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent."  Psa 22:1-2

You may recognize those words.  "My God, my God. . ." was also spoken by Christ in his darkest moment on the cross.

God's peace may be near, but doubts and worries may have cluttered our minds to a point where we cannot sense his presence.  Like David, we may feel abandoned, but it does not necessarily mean we have gone astray or God has jumped on a plane and left the country.  During these times, we are wounded and need the loving support of others in order to heal.

On the other hand, the absence of peace could mean you have wandered into a dark ally on the wrong side of town.  Flirting with your boss' new secretary or lying to your husband about an expensive shopping trip will not result in a closer walk with thee.  Guilt and shame can steal away our peace.

Hence, what is a red flag to one may be a needless fear for another.  It depends on, among other things, the person and the circumstances.   

WIth that said, I believe there exists another indicator that may shed a little more light.

Motive. 

What is your true reason for choosing a certain path?  Is it pride?  Or fear?  Maybe it's financial security.  Perhaps it's just your parents' way of doing things.  Or is it seemingly the easiest course to take?

Human motives (unaligned with God) do not equal spiritual direction.  However, if our sole and complete desire is to follow God, we can be assured that we are at least on the right track.

As Christ did, we must declare from our innermost being:  "Thy will be done."

Thy will.  God's will.  If our self-centered desires are sprinkled into the pot, the whole stew is spoiled.  We must continually seek the invisible God for he is the source of all knowledge and inspiration.  

And yes, it is a good thing to do.