In times of war, let's build on joy

The weather has made up its mind, and spring has sprung. Every time the warm end of the second semester rolls around, I want to kick off my shoes and wade into the Jordan River (not quite as transformative an act as wading into the other Jordan, but nonetheless…), creep down Kirkwood for some ice cream, or just sit under a budding tree and stare at the view. \nAnd yet, it's so irresponsible. I've always resented my tendency to not only stop and smell the roses, but also to fall head first into the flower bed and stretch out in the sun. What with finals, a job to hunt and goodbyes to say, small indulgences amount to big distractions and nobody can afford big distractions right now. \nAnd with a dubiously designed war on terrorism, a dubiously capable president, and a dubious "shadow" government operating in an undisclosed location, it seems premature to celebrate anything, even the undeniable fact that tulips are blooming in Bloomington. \nI mean, come on. A shadow government? That's just scary. Bunnies and chickens and flowers are cute. But they aren't the antidotes for ballistic missiles and conflict in the Middle East and uncounted fatalities.\nAnd yet, in spring's beauty, we can find the beginnings of peace. \nIt often seems like a guilty pleasure to enjoy yourself in the shadow of world events, as if we have a choice between being socially conscious and being happy. A lot of gloomy movers and shakers -- peace supporters, politically active operators and even my mother -- have given me a solid stare, and warned that "there's not a lot to feel good about lately." \nOf course, there are plenty of people who don't seem overwrought, who jump into a tidal wave of thoughtlessness, sunshine and beer, having long ago given up serious contemplation of the geo-political crisis. But they're not the ones I'm worried about, and they're not the ones who should be having all the fun.\nI'm worried about the rest of us, those who recognize the weight of our American responsibility to engage ourselves in world affairs, and at the same time feel helpless to change the particulars that plague the starving, the sickened and the threatened. I'm worried about anyone who has ever felt guilty when celebrating Springtime in the shadow of international violence.\nGuilt is a dead end. \nIf it's peace we're after, let's have joy as the bedrock of our peace practice. Anger and outrage are fine in their place, but they're no kind of foundation. We can, however, build on joy. \n I'm convinced of this more now than ever, especially after having attended an April 14 performance given by a group of actresses called "The Cave Project." These brave young women have assembled to explore the world around them and, at an interactive festival, they reminded me of the necessity of joy.\n On the walls of their performance space, they hung scraps of paper with joyous thoughts on them, and invited their audience to do the same. Below I've listed a few of my favorites from the show. \n Joy can help us bring peace into our own lives, and that's a first step to bringing peace into the lives of others. It may seem like a small beginning, but if we cannot create happiness for ourselves, how can we hope to create it for the world?\nSmall dogs in sweaters.\nMom tap dancing.\nThe smell outside 10 minutes before it is about to rain.\nStars.\nDancing with abandon.\nStrawberry shortcake cyclones.\nLive music.\nSomeone else's 2-year-old.