Are you happy this morning?  Do you know how to define the term?  Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said of pornography, "I know it when I see it."  Maybe you feel that way about happiness.  If so, Gross National Happiness may be helpful.  Arthur C. Brooks assembled statistics which measure America's mood, then seeks to discover the reasons why we feel the way we do.  Today's Wall Street Journal reviews the book; now you're reading my review of the review.

Some of the findings are fascinating.  Those who identify themselves as conservative or very conservative are twice as likely to say they're very happy as those who call themselves liberal or very liberal.  Married conservatives in particular are more than three times likely than single liberals to say they're very happy.

This discovery is troubling for half of us, and no surprise to the other half: women are seven percentage points more likely than men to be "very happy after losing a spouse to death," and "nine points likelier to be very happy if never married."  Draw your own conclusions.  Studies indicate that there is no difference at all in job satisfaction between those with below-average and above-average incomes.  But faith is a common denominator--the more committed people are to religious observance, the happier they apparently become.  Mr. Brooks is unsure if faith produces happiness or happiness makes people want to practice their faith.  Jesus suffered from no such confusion.

In the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised that his followers would be "blessed" if they would do nine things.  The so-called Beatitudes all begin with the Greek word makarios.  The term means more than "happy," since happiness depends on happenings.  You can be happy or sad today depending on the stock market, the NBA playoffs, or the barbeque you ate too late last night (I'm guilty on the last count).

Makarios, on the other hand, describes a tranquility which transcends circumstances, a deep inner joy which nothing in life can give or steal.  Jesus says that you can be "blessed" no matter how hot the summer becomes, or how high gas prices go, or what happens in the Democratic primaries, or with the economy or your family.  This is true success.  And it is found in the most surprising places you can imagine.

Would you like to know how to find such transcendent serenity?  We'll learn to experience it this week, but you can begin today.  Admit to Jesus that you need his serenity, and ask for his help and grace.  He's waiting to answer that prayer right now.

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