As Aristotle might say, everyone desires to be happy. What confirms this is that Jesus, in his first public teaching about the kingdom of God on earth from the mountaintop begins with blessedness–happiness. “Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” What is common to both of these approaches is they begin with the end. Therein lies the paradox. In order to be happy, one does not need to start off in tragedy, sadness, or grief. Happiness is not some long-term goal or achievement that comes only after many years of herculean labors. It is found in the tiny but correct first steps we take toward acceptance of the truth of human nature. The beatitudes, the teachings of Jesus from the mountain top, are not commands or ordinances directly regarding how we are to act. They are a description of a happy albeit broken mankind. The signs of our happiness are found in the places we do not like to look.
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