The heart of the matter!

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. Prov 17:22

The great state of Ohio claims to be “The heart of it all!” Living there for 20 years we thought it a bit overstated but when you look at the map you realize that a sizeable number of America’s most important roadways go right through Ohio…”the heart of it all” bringing life and commerce to the nation, just as your heart brings life to you!

About the size of your fist, the heart is an amazing muscle responsible for pumping life-sustaining blood via a 60,000-mile-long network of vessels; ceaselessly beating about 100,000 times a day, 40 million times a year—in total clocking up three billion heartbeats over an average lifetime. Moving approximately 2,000 gallons a day the heart will have pumped 50-65 million gallons of blood over a 70-90 year lifespan.

Now I am not allowed to handle anything sharp in the health care world, but I do know the importance of the human heart. As chaplain I have shared many anxious moments with families in the Cath Lab waiting room, which I call the Miracle Room. I know how vital a healthy heart is to wives and husbands, sons and daughters, moms, dads and families. It means life, health, a future and hope!

A cheerful heart is like a good medicine the Bible tells us. Going beyond the functioning miracle in your chest we are reminded that attitude and outlook are also keys to an abundant life, one where hope and joy, encouragement and peace are present.

• A cheerful heart is one that in the midst of difficulties can speak of hope with confidence.
• A cheerful heart is one you know you have met when you find yourself wishing to meet again!
• A cheerful heart is one that brightens your moment, and perhaps even your day.
A cheerful heart speaks of energy and smiles, something we need more of in our current season of despondent news and economic turmoil.
• These are difficult times, compounded by the health issues your patients and families are also facing.

Bring genuine cheer to their lives by experiencing it first yourself knowing that “the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, are "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future . Jer 29:11

The heart of the matter is how we look out and look up while others are looking down. Bring cheer with your next phone call, the next patient room you enter, the person you see in the hallway. They will be grateful!

Blessings

Peter

Peter Bath, D.Min.
V.P Spiritual Wellness & Human Development
Shawnee Mission Medical Center