This heart is your heart!

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

With a nod to Woodie Guthrie, the Shawnee Mission “choir”, some 400 strong, sang to over a thousand other Heart Walkers at the annual Heart Walk Saturday morning. It was the ‘world’ premier of a song recently featured in SMMC’s Idol show, featuring the guitar duo of Bath/Dinneen who wrote the song with Zarbosky. “This heart is your heart! A familiar tune, with fun lyrics that remind us of the truth…this heart is YOUR heart, so take good care, it is the only one you have!”,  said Dinneen who works with Physician Relations.

Saturday morning was a fun event, not only because the rains had stopped, but because we were together with friends and others making a difference for health and the American Heart Association. SMMC was in the top five total fund raising organizations with Sam Turner being the third highest team fund raiser. Lots of effort was happily given to make a difference. Just ask Pamela Shute, Administrative Director of SMMC’s Cardiology program…fun is her middle name!

A cheerful heart is like a good medicine the Bible says. Scientists are getting the idea as studies are finding that:  “After controlling for initial health conditions, we find that happiness extends life expectancy. 10 percent increase in happiness decreases probability of death by four percent, and this effect is more pronounced for men and younger people. Happiness plays a more important role for chronically ill people in decreasing mortality than for those who are not chronically ill. The positive influence of happiness on mortality can offset the negative impact of chronic illness. Marriage decreases mortality and this effect appears to work through increased happiness.” Source: “Why is the world getting older? The influence of happiness on mortality” from Deakin University, Economic Series. http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-happiness-increase-life-expectancy

Often when you think of making hearts well, you think of interventions, surgeries, medicines and rehab. Indeed it can get to that level and how grateful to have the dedicated expertise of the many physicians, nurses, pharmacists and rehab professionals.

What would happen if you consider the therapeutic effect of time with friends, relaxing with great music, creating something for the home, writing a poem, volunteering in the community, going for a walk or calling an old friend to reminisce and laugh? A merry heart can be created for little cost and can pay big dividends!

Remember:

This heart is your heart, this heart is my heart                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

From the coronary artery to the jugular vein                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

From the circle of Willis to the capillaries                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

This heart will pump for you and me!

As you go about this day take a moment to find merriment, joy, laughter…it makes hearts heal and helps people be whole!

Much more than medicine indeed!

Peter

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