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I came across the above posted clip of Don Messer and His Islanders performing the Pea Soup Reel, and I thought of people (such as me and maybe you) who devote themselves to puzzling through problems confronting the community, the nation — and the world, for that matter.

We have to take a break sometimes. If we don’t our head will hurt, but even worse we can lose perspective and go around grumpy.

I was very active in St. Louis’ Shaw Neighborhood in the 1990s, where people are passionately about many things — most for good, but sometimes not so much.

I was telling some of the people around here that in those days I stumbled upon an effective way to leaven and lighten intense neighborhood controversy.

People were angry about something (I forget what) and everyone was bracing themselves for what they thought might be a bruising meeting in the basement of St. Margaret’s Church.

I hired an accordionist to stand outside entrance and play as people were filed in and then work the room before the meeting began.

I think it’s impossible to hear an accordionist without cracking a smile.

Call it the don’t-worry-be-happy school of community organizing.