Heart health
“Come Together” by Stephen Crump
I remember being at an art auction in 2009 and this piece by Stephen Crump called “Come Together” really spoke to me. Thankfully, I was the high bidder and have treasured it ever since then. As you can see from the photo, Mr. Crump used three types of wood for this masterpiece. The center heart is Bloodwood which has a striking natural red color. It is definitely noticeable in my living area as the artwork measures eighteen inches by fourteen inches.
To most people, it might look like just another decorative object. But the moment I saw it, I knew it represented something much bigger. It reminded me of the incredible importance of both the heart that beats inside our chest and the heart that cannot be seen, the figurative heart that defines who we are.
Every moment of every day, our physical heart quietly performs one of life's greatest miracles. About the size of a clenched fist, it beats nearly 100,000 times a day without asking for recognition or applause. It pumps thousands of gallons of blood through a network of vessels stretching tens of thousands of miles throughout our bodies. Every heartbeat delivers oxygen and nutrients to every cell, sustaining life from the moment we are born until our final breath. We are indeed wonderfully made!
When our physical heart is healthy, we often take it for granted. We rarely stop to thank it for its faithful service. Yet we know that caring for it matters. We exercise, choose healthier foods, monitor our blood pressure, and visit the doctor because we understand that our quality of life depends upon the health of this remarkable organ.
But there is another heart that deserves just as much attention.
The figurative heart.
Unlike the physical heart, no MRI or X-ray can reveal its condition. Yet its health determines the course of our lives. It is the source of our motivations, values, compassion, integrity, and love. It shapes the words we speak, the decisions we make, and the way we treat the people around us. A healthy figurative heart is quick to forgive. It chooses kindness when anger would be easier. It seeks understanding before judgment. It celebrates another person's success instead of becoming jealous. It gives generously without expecting anything in return.
Most importantly, it loves.
Unfortunately, just as arteries can slowly harden over time, so can our figurative hearts. Disappointment can make us cynical. Betrayal can make us suspicious. Grief can tempt us to close ourselves off from others. The hurts we experience in life can gradually build invisible walls around our hearts until they become difficult for either love to enter or love to leave.
I have experienced enough of life to know how easily that can happen. Heartbreak. Loss. Disappointment. Broken relationships. Dreams that never materialized.
Each has the potential to leave scars. Yet scars do not mean the heart has stopped working. They simply remind us that it has loved deeply.
Perhaps that is why love remains the greatest force in the world. Love softens what life tries to harden. It restores hope where disappointment once lived. It allows us to trust again after we have been hurt. Love inspires parents to sacrifice for their children, friends to stand beside one another during difficult times, strangers to help complete strangers, and caregivers to spend sleepless nights beside those they cherish.
Love gives life meaning. When I spoke with the artist about this piece he called “Come Together” he said love has a remarkable ability to bridge differences that might otherwise divide us. It invites us to see beyond race, nationality, culture, religion, politics, or social status and recognize the shared humanity in one another. When we choose to love—with empathy, respect, kindness, and a willingness to listen—we build trust, foster understanding, and create relationships that prove our common values are far greater than our differences.
When I look at that heart-shaped piece of art sitting in my home, I do not just see a decoration. I see a daily reminder. Take care of your physical heart. Walk a little farther. Eat a little healthier. Get enough rest. Treasure the remarkable gift that keeps you alive every second of every day.
But do not neglect your figurative heart. Protect it from bitterness. Fill it with gratitude. Exercise it with generosity. Strengthen it with forgiveness. Keep it open to compassion. Most importantly, let it love freely.
At the end of our lives, people are unlikely to remember our possessions, our job titles, or the size of our bank accounts. They will remember how we made them feel. They will remember whether our heart welcomed them, encouraged them, forgave them, and loved them.
Perhaps that is why the heart has become the universal symbol of love. Not because of its shape, but because of what it represents. That is a big reason I included a heart in my logo!
Every heartbeat reminds us that we are alive.
Every act of love reminds us why.
Take care of yourselves and each other!
