Here’s how many of us chase happiness:

Finish the degree.
Land the job.
Buy the house.
Upgrade the kitchen.
Take the trip.
Repeat.

We hit the goal and feel good… for a minute.

Then the restlessness creeps back in. We start scanning the horizon for whatever might fill the gap next.

Eventually, it becomes clear: this chase is endless. What we thought would bring lasting, satisfying happiness turns out to be a moving target.

This past weekend’s Gospel focused on the Exaltation of the Cross, and while the language might sound lofty, the message isn’t. Recognizing that fulfillment doesn’t come from accumulating more, we learn it comes from giving ourselves away in ways that matter, especially when it’s inconvenient, or when it costs us something.

One of the hardest places this shows up is in how we deal with people; those that frustrate us, disappoint us, and/or challenge our sense of right and wrong.

There’s a temptation to react with sarcasm, gossip, cold shoulders, or quiet judgment. That’s the easy way.

But the Cross asks for the harder response–for patience, for forgiveness, for prayers spoken through clenched teeth if that’s what it takes.

That’s the kind of effort that meaningfully shifts something in us. Maybe not right away but over time.

This week, I invite you to pick one person who’s been difficult to love lately. Instead of replaying your frustration, say a short, honest prayer for them. This is how the Cross shows up in real life—small moments where we choose something better than bitterness.

God Bless.
FF