"Heartquakes"

“Heartquakes”

(This article stems from the eulogy our dear friend Larry Thompson delivered at his daughter Latricia’s memorial service in October 2017 in which he used “heartquakes” to describe his and his wife Cathy’s emotions.)

The strongest known earthquake in history, measuring Magnitude 9.5, occurred in southern Chile on May 22, 1960. It killed almost 4500 people, left some 2 million homeless and the resulting tsunami caused another 230 deaths in Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. Damage estimates ran between $400 and $800 million ($3-6 billion in today’s dollars). Five other Magnitude 9 or higher tremors have been recorded since 1700 in Alaska, Sumatra, Russia, northern Chile and the northern Pacific coast of the United States. These seismic events are not only devastating to humans but wreak havoc on the land, often changing the landscape of a region forever.

But there’s another kind of quaking that impacts individuals emotionally and physically: heartquakes. The word comes from mid-16^th century English and is defined in the Oxford Living Dictionary as “a palpitation of the heart, especially as the result of a strong or sudden emotion”. These are life-changing events which can shake us to the very core of our being. It might be the death of a loved one (especially a child or from an unexpected tragedy); financial reversal due to a job termination, mismanagement or other source; betrayal by someone who was considered a friend; or some other calamity. Such upheavals have the potential to cause irreparable harm to families and society at large and keep mental health professionals’ appointment calendars full.

Heartquakes will come—we just don’t know the what and when. Jesus told His disciples (and us), “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33). (The word translated trouble comes from a Greek term meaning to crowd or bring pressure.) So how can we be prepared when they raise their ugly heads? Let me make some suggestions. First, give God your burdens (“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”—Psalm 55:22). Second, trust God for guidance (“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”—Proverbs 3:6, NKJV). Next, recognize that He’ll walk with you through your difficulties (“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5). Finally, seek prayer and input from God’s family (“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2). As we depend on God and allow His people to minister to us our heartquakes are made more manageable.

Remember—“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan