InnerQuest #264 An Open Heart (a 3 part series)

Part 1:  “There are times our personal suffering is for a greater purpose”

By-pass: n.  A pathway that passes around an obstructed or congested area.

By-passing: tr. v.  To avoid (an obstacle) by using an alternative channel, passage, or route.

Over the next several weeks I am going to present my thoughts on the relationship between my upcoming open heart surgery and our society’s need for its own by-pass. What fuels my thoughts, actions and heart on this topic, is my personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and my trust and faith in God.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

On a warm Monday night a friend’s buddy from heaven came to see him. They had a wonderful visit and then the question was asked, “Well,” said the friend, “Is there volleyball in heaven?” “I have good news and bad news about that.” said his buddy. “The good news is, YES, there is volleyball in heaven.” “Then what’s the bad news?” asked the friend. His buddy looked at him right in the eye and said, “You’re serving on Friday.”

I love playing volleyball, and even though most of the people I play with are quite younger, I can hold my own and I have not been afraid to dive after the ball if needed. A little over a year ago I felt a crunch behind my left big toe and wasn’t sure what it was. Did I jam it? Sometime later I had it checked out because the base of the toe was bigger than it should be, there was some pain, and it was keeping me from running at full speed.

X-rays were taken of my toe and it was discovered that there was very little cartilage in the base of the joint, plus the deformation was most likely a bunion.  Years of wear and tear and another genetic gift (bunion). Running full speed was out, but I still play volleyball.

This year another change had come upon me that I wasn’t totally surprised at. After teammates and other people saying I looked tired, and my upper back was causing some issues, I decided to call my cardiologists and get checked out. A heart catheterization was done. Enough blockage was found and the decision to have by-pass surgery was planned. Volleyball and other vigorous activities were over, for now.

I had stents put in in 2005 and 2011 and was already prepared for the news that another surgery would mean getting the big ‘zipper’. But, instead of feeling bummed about the news, I am looking forward to getting it done. I know how much better I will feel after the surgery and the few weeks of post-op pain are over. 

As our society has grown by leaps and bounds over the centuries and most notably, recent decades, major by-pass surgery (reconstruction) around major cities, was needed to eliminate the constant congestion of traffic going into and out of them. It would take time and there would be a certain level of pain felt by many until all was completed. A successful by-pass meant better, healthier flow.

When I had my meeting with the surgeon to go over what is going to be done, he said something to me, that within a few moments gave me a vision of clarity on how totally awesome God is!

The surgeon told me that I looked to be in good shape from the activities I do and that my heart was in very good shape as well. It was the arteries that were bad. If left alone they could severely damage the heart or stop it from working. He ordered me to stop doing anything that would get my pulse too high, because that would increase the need for oxygen in the blood and put too much pressure on the heart.

After hearing those words I immediately thought of my left toe. The pain and suffering I‘ve had to endure turned out to be a life saver.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God does work ‘in all things’ not just isolated incidents, for our good. Not all suffering is good, evil is all around us in this world, but God is able to turn every situation around for our good in the long run. It is to fulfill His purpose, not in making us happy. Trust God. He knows what he is doing.

Our society’s mentality has been enduring a lot of pain and suffering, on each other and self-inflicted, and the congestion may be getting to a point where the heart of our nation could suffer a major blow-out. There have been many stents inserted over the years to ease the flow of things, but it may be time for major by-pass surgery.

I believe the heart of this nation is still strong, but there are blockages suffocating the flow to and from it.

I will be having 3-4 by-passes done on Wednesday, April 5^th. There will be several days where pain will overshadow my happiness. That’s ok. I am willing to endure the pain, because I trust what God has promised me and my hope lives through him. I look forward to continuing the purpose he has set for me and the people he has presented to me to help guide.

When we are able to discover what the true nature of the congestion that stifles ourselves and our nation, then we will know what really needs to be done. There will be personal pain and pain as a whole.

Even if your belief in God is weak or non-existent, there is much to be learned from his Word. There are times our personal suffering is for a greater purpose.

John 4:2:17