“Happy are those . . .” Garnet Raven shows us that happiness is a complex state not easily achieved. The kind of happiness referred to in Psalm 1 is partially captured in Wagamese’s slang term “Lookin’ Jake.” Lookin’ Jake means getting right on the inside, learning and following the teachings of tradition and using ceremony and ritual to go deeper, to the point that others might notice a change on the outside. Happiness comes when we can heal the wounds of the tragedies for which we are not responsible and resolve the sins that result from those wounds. Lookin’ Jake is the true way to happiness.

In Wagamese’s writing, the tragedies that leave his characters wounded—tragedies enacted by government, culture, society, community, and even family—also leave the characters lost. The condition of being lost can lead to what Christians call sin. In his profundity, Wagamese weaves a complex web that links tragedy, sorrow, helpful and problematic behavior, and happiness.

Psalm 1 and Luke 6:22, 26 encourage us to stop relying on our façades, our reputation, or our achievements to hide from our wounds. The psalmist encourages us to meditate on the teachings of God day and night to make ourselves right. Knowing God reveals the way of blessedness. In Luke, Jesus teaches that notoriety for personal works leads to wickedness; it is better to be defamed “on account of the Son of Man”—to be reviled for being right on the inside. Right living will bring prosperity—not external but eternal prosperity. The wicked ultimately will not judge us. Rather, that act lies with the God to whom we have turned, our God of goodness and mercy. Psalm 1 reassures us that God watches over the way of the righteous.