The PM's heart

One of my more memorable heart related events occurred in the Balkans.  I was there on a trip visiting some very dear friends, encouraging the ongoing peace effort.  Its an exciting place of change and reconciliation.  A few days after arriving, AC, a close friend and man whom I admire greatly was invited to visit the PM.  He requested that I join him.  The two of us were ushered into a small private room off the PMs office.  A few minutes later the PM entered and we went through all the formalities and introductions, settling into overstuffed leather chairs.  After a few minutes of chit chat, AC asked the PM, "how's your heart?"  Apparently, the PM had undergone surgery several years before.  Like a typical Balkan leader, the PM puffed his chest and answered forcefully, "Its strong".  "No, how's your heart?"  retorted AC.  The tall, broad chested, national leader hesitated, drew a long slow breath and sighed, "its hard".  "We have many problems, conflicts."  Time seemed to slow.  The PM revealed the challenges and stress of leadership.

Rich or poor, powerful or weak, globally, we share more, than less in common.  All of humanity share heart; some pour it out, others change it.  I felt connected to the PM,  a man of power willing to reveal his heart.  Heart - fascinating that we use this word to describe the muscle that pumps the blood through us; its also a word to describe feeling, emotion, and affection; one can pour out his heart; another can lose heart; then it can also be the center of a matter or even city.

While in the fog of the catheterization lab, as a catheter was directed though my wrist and to my my heart, all viewed on monitors above, doctor Cooper identified the blockage details, then turned to me: "you are fortunate, your heart is very strong, no damage, but we can't do anything of benefit for you here.  You'll need bypass surgery"

The Balkans have been on a twenty year bypass surgery journey.  Centuries of heartless conflict eroded into one of the worst wars of the late twentieth century.  Catholics, Muslims, Orthodox, behaving like barbarians, each claiming ancestral rights to land, unable to live together.  Visit the Balkans today and you will meet beautiful people, diverse cultures, and countries struggling to find their way into the developed union of Europe; people with beautiful hearts.