In Search of Joy

I am a sucker for a good story about human survival and the building of resiliency within
individuals and communities. I love the grittiness and messiness that lives in the human
experience and the What Happens Next and What Do We Take From This? I was recently
privileged to hear such a story of tragedy and the ability to great beauty within the rubble. This is
the story of Vedran Smailović, known as the “Cellist of Sarajevo,” and it is a poignant example
of finding and creating beauty in the darkest of times. In the midst of the brutal Siege of Sarajevo
during the 1990s, Smailović chose to play his cello in the ruins of his city, specifically to honor
the 22 people who were killed while waiting in line for bread. His act was more than just a
tribute; it was a defiance against the horrors of war and a statement that beauty, art, and humanity
could persist even in the face of overwhelming darkness.

The message of Smailovićs’ story, and the way it is echoed in the novel The Cellist of Sarajevo,
teaches us that joy and beauty are not just things that happen to us—they are things we can
choose to create and share, even when circumstances seem hopeless. The characters in the novel,
though they do not directly interact with the cellist or each other, are each profoundly affected by
his music. His playing becomes a symbol of resilience and a reminder that the human spirit can
find ways to endure and even flourish, despite the surrounding despair.

In this story, the search for joy is not about finding it in conventional places but about creating it
where it seems impossible. It shows that joy can be an act of resistance, a way to assert one’s
humanity in the face of dehumanizing conditions. The cellist’s music, echoing through a war-torn
city, symbolizes the power of art and the human capacity to find meaning, beauty, and
connection, even when everything else seems lost.

Ultimately, the lesson is that joy is not something passive that we wait for; it is something we
actively cultivate. Even in the darkest times, we can choose to create moments of light, and in
doing so, we can inspire and uplift others around us. This search for joy becomes a lifeline, a
way to maintain hope and dignity when it feels like everything else has been stripped away.
I encourage you – find the light today.