I remember the very moment I encountered the Order of Joy Warriors. I had been writing and paused because all my thoughts had vanished. That happens sometimes. It’s as if the part of your mind that puts things into words is waiting for the next clear thought to emerge so you can continue. I think of it as an intermission.
So there I was in this kind of blank space, quiet and waiting, when an image popped into my head. It was a large ivory-colored banner, and on it, written in golden letters that seemed to float somehow, were the words “Order of Joy Warriors.”
As I sat there staring at it, I got the distinct feeling that, even though I had no idea what it meant, I was being invited to join. “What’s not to like?” I said to myself. And right out loud, I said, “Okay.” But it wasn’t a whimsical agreement. It felt important, as if I was making a significant choice.
Over the course of the next couple of days, I was flooded with sustained peak experiences. It was a feast of good feelings–amusement, gratitude, appreciation, serenity, love, contentment, awe. Then something inside me asked me to reaffirm that I wanted to be a Joy Warrior. And I said, “Yes,” with the solemnity one gives to taking an oath.
I kind of went about my normal routine after that, only thinking about the Order now and then. The whole episode had taken place, after all, in my imagination. I confess, I even scoffed at it a bit. It seemed frivolous, given all the injustice and suffering in the world, to be focused on joy. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on some aspect of the world’s ills and work toward its healing? Joy seemed an almost ridiculous pursuit.
But as time went on, I began to see deeper into joy. I realized that I have been studying its various guises all my life. I’d fulfilled the prerequisites for eligibility into the Order. Now I had been offered the opportunity to learn to master living in joy. Little did I realize that when I accepted the offer what a challenging mission it would be.
It’s not like the world’s streets are overflowing with joy. It’s there, of course, shining. But its light is blocked by enormous swaths of a malevolent darkness that seems intent on extinguishing it altogether.
That’s why a commitment to joy matters. And that’s why members of the Order are deemed Warriors. We’ll talk about the enemies of joy later on. For now, I will only say that they are formidable and everywhere. That much is obvious to us all. As I said, it’s a challenging mission. We war with ourselves and with each other on so many fronts! The path of joy is not for sissies.
But the compensation is beyond measure and make every step more than worthwhile. I’m chronicling my journey here in the hope that you might choose to become a member of the Order, too. I can only tell you, of course, of my personal experiences. But I suspect that mine are universal in many ways. It will give you an idea what to expect, should you want to consider taking the pledge, and what you’re up against, and how meaningful and glorious are the rewards. And even if joining the Order isn’t your cup of tea, I hope you’ll benefit, or at least be entertained, by learning more about it. Stay tuned.