Yesterday…
…I learnt that a friend has to go to Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge for an ‘Ablation’. Mr Google told me that a cardiac ablation is a treatment for irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Catheters are inserted, moved to the correct position inside the heart, and the area that’s causing the arrhythmia is destroyed. A normal heartbeat is then restored.
The former journalist and publisher Michael Wynn Jones, husband of former television chef Delia Smith, died on Monday. The couple had been major share-holders of Norwich City Football Club; more recently he was the cub’s honorary life president. The news showed him wearing a Norwich City scarf; the reporter said ‘Norwich City yellow was always round his neck and close to his heart’.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were talking to Sir Kevin Sinfield, on the third day of his endurance challenge. He’s aiming to complete seven ultra marathons in seven days, to raise awareness and funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) charities. Because his former teammate Rob Burrow died from the disease in 2024 it’s a cause that’s close to his heart. ‘What you’re doing is so inspiring – the unity that you’re building,’ Catherine told Sir Kevin.
This morning my Bible reading included the end of Malachi that’s about turning ‘the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents…’ It’s about unity of hearts.
In West Side Story Tony and Maria have declared their love for each other, to each other and they sing:
Make of our hands one hand,
Make of our hearts one heart,
Make of our vows one last vow:
Only death will part us now.
I’ve reflected on ‘hearts’ all my life – the kind-hearted, broken-hearted, half-hearted… pure hearts, troubled hearts, heavy hearts… United hearts are desperately needed in our homes, communities, churches, politics…
…Perhaps united hearts come by loving God with all our hearts… and our neighbour as ourself.
…Perhaps that’s a normal heartbeat, restored by a spiritual ablation.
