Heart Problems

For about 2 years now I have been spending my precious weekends in a suit and tie, fighting for the last word or the most clever phrase.  I am on a speech and debate team.  

I have noticed a somewhat sickening trend throughout my time at the tournaments and in the practices.  Now I don't like to start these posts of in a negative direction, but I feel that my age group is in dire need of a clear diagnosis.  

We have all heard for many years about the dangers of heart problems.  Whether it is too much grease, not enough red wine, or a lack of exercise, everyone over the age of forty seems to be talking about it.  A lot of times these heart problems are not very visible in daily situations.  If we are going to work or driving our cars or sitting in our chars, all seems to be well.

The real evidence comes when we are removed from our daily routine and we are forced to exercise in order to make it up a hill or run a mile.  Its when the challenge comes that the true condition of our heart is tested and revealed.

Now believe it or not my main concern is not really our hearts in the medical sense of the word.  I am concerned about the other sense of the word.  That of the heart being an indicator of who we are inside.  

During a recent tournament my coach messed up and entered one of my good friends in an event that he was not prepared for. She told him to go to the round and improvise, and to do his best.  Gary went to the round and did just that.  There is a lot of pressure at these tournaments to have your speech memorized perfectly and to be able to present it just as perfectly.  Gary didn't have the luxury of preparation, and so he was only able to be as good as the the circumstances would allow.

At the end of his speech a certain competitor who was in the room felt the need to approach Gary and inform him of a few things. Namely that he was a "disgrace to pubic speaking and had wasted all of their time".  

I find instances like this one to be very telling of the heart problems in our society.  This kid was so unhealthy inside that he felt compelled to put someone else down for their honest effort.   

In the Word it says that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  This has proven itself true so many times in my life.  I have seen instances where people are truly good hearted people, and it shows primarily in their words.  Our words are often the first act of either love or condemnation towards those we meet.

And our words never fail to reveal the condition of our hearts.  

When the challenge came to the kid at the tournament and he was faced with either welcoming Gary with love, or condemning him through his own false pride, the kid chose the latter. Because his heart was sick and broken. It couldn't show mercy toward Gary because it had never received any of its own.

God tells us to love each other just as He has loved us.  Christ showed us mercy and love and forgiveness on that cross,  and he asks us to remember it so that we might treat others the way He would. 

With love and with mercy.  

As a country and as a species, we do have major heart problems.  The only cure is a daily practice of love and mercy.