Heart Check
As I have shared with you, I left for vacation with a a fourteen-day heart monitor. Because I have a pacemaker, I’m often mindful of what is happening with my physical heart. Some things aren’t quite right, so I have the external monitor, which makes me even more attentive to my own heart’s beat.
As I think about my physical heart, I am reminded of Living Table’s Relational Covenant. It allows for anyone to call for a “heart check” when a break is needed in difficult conversations. I don’t know about you, however, I feel like the world could use a heart check right about now.
While I cannot call “heart check” for the entire world, I can invite you to take a break, listen to your actual heart beat, and check in with your spiritual heart. How are you doing with all the stressors in your life and in the world? Do you need a minute (or more) of quiet?
When my heart beats too fast (which it can do without provocation because of dysautonomia), I take deep breaths and try to shift my thoughts to gratitude. This is a pretty good practice when my heart feels like it could break under the stress of the world we live in.
Our Relation Covenant says that a heart check is thirty seconds of silence. I recommend a bit longer than that if you can manage it. Time to take a few intentional breaths and remind yourself that there is still goodness in life, in the world.
Maybe with your own heart check, you will lean into gratitude or joy or love to recenter yourself. Whatever you do, may you find renewal and hope for the days ahead.
If you would like to share any prayer requests as you check in with your heart, feel free to do so in the comments (just remember this is public, so please do not post about someone else without their permission).
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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Thank you Rachael for this heart check reminder. Anxiety can sometimes trick one into believing that for sure a heart attack is inevitable. Anxiety can be an evil trickster. Then I remind myself that “God’s anchor holds and touches solid ground “. Breath of Life pulse through my veins with your life giving oxygen and peace.