It’s Always The
Heart (book review)
I agreed to review this book for several reasons not the
least of which were that my wife had recently suffered a heart attack; I may be
a likely candidate for one; the author, besides having a heritage similar to mine
(Greek) had a solid reputation in his field; and I always wondered if there was
any connection between our physical hearts that beat away on average over 36
million times a year and our spiritual hearts that are referenced over 700
times in the Bible.
Dr. Arthur E. Constantine, MD, a practicing cardiologist at
the Heart Group/St. Thomas Heart at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville,
Tennessee, in his book, It’s Always The Heart,
published by Westbow Press, 2014, describes that connection well with examples based
on his personal experience with thousands of patients. He gives us life-changing spiritual and
physical insights into the most important organ in our bodies by sharing accounts
of circumstances that can easily represent almost all of us and/or those we
love.
Constantine relates the story of Mr. Important who thinks
that without him the world would not rotate on its axis and how that lifestyle
or attitude impacts both our physical condition and our relationship with God.
Through the ever-exercising Mrs. Tallent’s story, the author relates how fear
and doubt are used by the Devil to challenge our very faith during times of
surprise heart attacks. Through the story of underweight and undernourished
chain-smoking Jacob, Dr. C. tells us how addictions impact us physically and
spiritually, robbing us of our potential in both arenas. Through the experience
of Joanne, who tried everything to be happy, Constantine shows us how the
elusion of real joy and meaning in one’s life can cause trouble in both the spiritual
and physical realm.
Jim Oliver had to change his spiritual heart with respect to
a balanced life and only then could he help his physical heart to function
well. And the life of Leroy Harris, the 347 pound truck driver who only ate at
truck stops and drove all night except for six hours when his wife spelled him
off, seven days a week chasing more income all the time, is a warning to all of
us who take better care of our vehicles than our bodies. The author also has a
special chapter dedicated to pastors who just don’t get it when it comes to
their own health – both physical and spiritual. Through Jean he warns about
being in denial about our lifestyle and its impact on our ‘two’ hearts. A
second Jim shows us how to live with the fear of dying and the author shows us
how to get out of that trap. And finally, through Mrs. Whitt (or Nana as she
was so lovingly known to her family), Constantine talks about dying and how to
deal with it.
No matter the circumstance, Constantine shows what many of
his patients have discovered – somehow, it’s always about the heart. Being in my senior years, I found myself
thinking of so many loved ones I had lost who well could have been one or more
of the people Constantine writes about.
What was worse, I found that I could well be one or more of them
myself. And that has its way of shaking
you a bit, causing you to sit up and take notice to what the good Doctor is
suggesting, not forcing on you. And hopefully taking action right away.
In fact, he goes one step further and makes some strong
recommendations about diets (no, not off-the-shelf ones; he really dislikes
those) and exercise (no, not the Jane Fonda dvd’s type) – just solid
suggestions on how you can start to bring your physical heart into sync with
the spiritual heart that God wants you to have.
But make no mistake about, Constantine pulls no punches – if your
spiritual heart and life and relationship with God is not in order, do not
expect your physical heart to stay fit for long. Kudos to a professional person
who takes his faith to the office and by so doing has helped thousands. Thank God our politicians haven’t found a way
to stop people like him.
I strongly recommend the book for all who have been there in
the cardiologist’s office or worse still under his or her watchful eye during
an operation on their heart. Also highly
recommended for all counselors, especially in Christian counseling ministry. It would be a bonus for pastors, too.
As for me, I have to run off and do my speedwalking, drink
some more water, and strengthen my core muscles.
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