Heart to Heart

by Aaron Jubar

In a few short weeks, a cherubic and scantily-clad Cupid will proceed to unleash heart-tipped arrows towards the backsides of most Americans who have significant others. Those struck with Cupid's arrows will go on to purchase enough chocolate and roses to keep candy stores and flower shops in business until Mother's Day. The true significance of the holiday, however, can easily be lost amongst the commercialism. Valentine's Day is the time to think about healing and fulfilling the heart -- both physical and spiritual -- as well as giving and receiving love.

A Case of the Heart

My wife is afflicted with an abnormal heart rhythm. Every so often, her heart will beat at a very rapid pace forcing her to stop doing whatever she is doing and causing extreme fatigue afterwards.

After infrequent episodes over the course of many years, she decided to visit a cardiologist. My wife was diagnosed with an arrhythmia brought on by irregular electrical pathways in the heart itself.

The good news is that this is a treatable condition.

A Case of the Nerves

Initially, she was placed on medication, which did not work. The next option is for her to undergo a non-surgical procedure not unlike that undergone by the Detroit Lions' Quarterback, Joey Harrington.

I'll be honest; the thought of having my wife undergoing a medical procedure of any kind makes me nervous. But when I saw how quick doctors were to treat a quarterback worth millions, I began believing it may be a good idea.

Basically, they gave her two choices, live with the heart condition, or get the procedure.

Under other circumstances, she would choose to live with the condition since it happens so infrequently. However there is a chance that the arrhythmia could lead to heart complications down the road, not to mention the fact that one of her episodes may have serious consequences to an unborn child. For that reason alone we believe that the surgery is worth the risk, since we eventually want children and in no way want to endanger them.

So, very soon, my wife will be undergoing the procedure to fix her heart. She will not be doing it only for herself, but for her husband, family, close friends and future children.

Is There a Spiritual Doctor in the House?

My wife's heart condition is something that can be easily fixed with a 3 to 6 hour non-surgical procedure. She will quickly feel the results and be able to get on with her life knowing that her arrhythmia will never return. But how does one go about healing a spiritually unfilled or even broken heart?

When we are baptized, the water flows over our body and is quickly wiped away. It takes years or decades for the holy water to seep down from our foreheads to our hearts, and in some cases it never makes it all the way.

Many of us go about our lives or experience times when our spiritual hearts need a jumpstart. Unfortunately, there's no emotional cardiologist walking among us who can mend broken hearts (if there was such an individual, she would have quite a lucrative practice). The only thing that will heal our hearts is time, prayer, and lots of love.

All You Need is Love

Love from family and those close to us provides the emotional support we need. Oftentimes, though, hearts in need go undiagnosed -- just as medical heart conditions often do. It's important to communicate how we feel with those who are close.

We, as humans, are many things; but one thing we are not is psychic. Loved ones need to be told how we feel so that they may support us and help to fill the empty space in our hearts. But regardless of how much support our loved ones can give, we must also contribute to our own emotional well being by loving ourselves. We must first open our hearts to the holy water that began diffusing through our soul at baptism.

The physical heart and the spiritual one are entirely different:

• Whereas the physical heart degrades over time, the spiritual heart gains strength.
• At the same time, the physical heart can be fixed in the span of hours and days, while there is rarely a quick fix for the broken or empty heart.
• A full spiritual heart can give strength when the physical heart is weak, but the exchange does not go both ways.
• A healthy heart means little if the spiritual heart is empty.

There is, however, one treatment that both hearts respond to -- love and support. And finding your personal reason for fulfillment, both physically and emotionally, will open both hearts and help them heal and grow strong.

Love Others, Love Yourself

This coming Valentine's Day, be sure to give lots of chocolate, candy, and plenty of flowers as a material representation of love for your significant other. But don't forget to acknowledge, embrace and love the other important things: family, friends, and life.

And most importantly, think about accepting and loving yourself. For the key to healthy hearts begins with you.

Life Applications:

Which choices are harder to make: those involving physical health or spiritual health? Why?

How do you go about healing when your heart has been hurt?

How do you show others that you love and care for them?

Copyright 2003 by Aaron Jubar 
All rights reserved.