A Whole Heart
Seeing Hope Helps Your Heart Find A Good Beat
by Eric Elkin
“I love you with my whole heart.” Last Valentine’s Day, I bought a card for Peggy with these words on it. I do love Peggy with my whole heart, but is that really possible? The heart is a muscle. It ensures oxygen-deprived blood gets to your lungs, so oxygen-rich blood gets to the rest of your body. To love with your whole literally means you get my blood pumping. That is not the most romantic sentiment for a card.
The ancient Hebrew writers of the Bible thought the heart had all kinds of capabilities. They knew the heart was the center of life. So they assumed it was where all intellectual activity and emotions were processed. The heart is also where choices were made. If you think about, the way we talk about in the modern world retains this old world understanding.
Literally, the phrase a broken heart comes from the Bible. Nehemiah says, ”The king asked me, “Why do you seem sad? Since you aren’t sick, you must have a broken heart!” (Neh. 2:2) If I were to say I have a broken heart, you would know what I was talking about. But you probably would not expect to find me in the hospital for this condition.
Biologically speaking, the ancient Hebrews had no concept of the brain. They would know love, wisdom, and choices are all made in the brain if they did. Love, according to research, is wired in your brain through the primitive neural network. Therefore, a more clinically accurate Valentine’s card would read, “I love you with my whole ventral tegmental area.”
Here’s my problem, and maybe it is yours as well. When Peggy tells me she loves me with her whole heart, I feel it in my heart. Just like when Paul writes about “the eyes of your heart.” He wants your heart to have enough light so it can see God’s hope. Hope is an emotion I feel most in my heart.
If your experience agrees with my observation, you are not wrong. While emotions are produced in the brain, the brain sends its messages to the heart. When the brain experiences stress, anxiety, and fear, it sends a chain reaction to your heart. These emotions place a strain on the heart leading to high blood pressure, and can cause a heart attack.
On the flip side, love and compassion can have a powerfully positive impact on your heart. These emotions change the rhythm of the heart. More harmonious heart rhythms improve your cardiovascular efficiency and help your nervous system find balance. People who love, receive appreciation, are compassionate and can see hope are healthier people. Your heartbeat shows this to be true.
As we head into the holiday season, my prayer for you finds expression in the words of Paul. “I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call.” It will not be good for you to dwell on what is not happening in your life. Instead, give thanks, share love, and express appreciation for others. It will help your heart find a good beat.
Click to read Ephesians 1: 11-23
Reflection Questions:
What is the “heart” phrase you commonly use?
How much of it is grounded in an ancient view of the heart?
Why do you use this phrase? And, how does it reflect your reality?
Where can you let some anger go by way of empathy?