Each Sunday I write a poem or prose inspired by the sacred found in the ordinary during the week.
Today, the sacred is found in the moments watching my husband’s heart beating, pumping, with blood flowing, as the radiologist studies closely to find any abnormalities hidden in the ordinary beating of his heart—that which is extraordinary.
Valves opening and closing in a pulsing rhythm, on and on in each moment, each day. Through all manner of heartache, heart opening, shock, joy, grief, and peace, his heart is relied upon to simply beat.
Then the doctor shows me what he has found; a tiny hole, there from birth, has allowed a blood clot to flow through. For 75 years this hole sat silent, unobserved, hidden in the steady pump of life, until today.
Now we know. With all symptoms of this small stroke relieved, we go home with hearts pumping in gratitude.
Perfection is within imperfection. Joy found in heartache. Calm found in chaos. A heart beating, even now, with a hole hidden, deep within.
“I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine.”
Neil Armstrong
The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.”
Joseph Campbell
“Everything can change in a heartbeat.”
Travis Pastrana
For Ongoing Resource List: Reading for Heart and Mind