Correcting the Impulses of my Heart

I had a procedure done yesterday to correct a heart arrhythmia that I have lived with for approximately 30 years. This is the third attempt at using surgery as a cure to remove this "thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!" - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬. The coincidence of this being the third time is not lost on me.

“Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The first attempt was made by the same cardiac electrophysiologist who completed this last procedure. He was not able to trigger the arrhythmia and aborted the procedure.

The second was by a different cardiac electrophysiologist who felt very confident in the success of his procedure. Instead of a cure for my paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in addition to my old condition, a new condition appeared: paroxysmal atrial flutter.

I have been led to this third attempt by a series of events. For some reason, I have been unable to make an appointment with my cardiologist. I reached out to the husband of a former colleague of mine, who was a Cardiac Physician Assistant at Broward Health, for recommendations for a new cardiologist. He suggested a few names but also recommended that I reconsider having the ablation done by the same electrophysiologist who was unsuccessful in the first attempt. “He is among the best” he told me, and the technology for the procedure has advanced significantly. Instead of searing the heart tissue, Farapulse uses a non-thermal electric field to target heart tissue. The new procedure has an 81.6% success rate for my former condition.

So I decided to move forward with the procedure. A series of unrelated events resulted in the delay of the procedure until October 3, 2024. So here I am on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, having my literal heart impulse corrected, but not by seared this time. (There significant to this statement as well).

This also begins a 10 day restrictive activity period that ends on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, the significance of which also is not lost on me.

The series of events that lead to this moment can be viewed as coincidental, but the meaning I find in each event goes beyond coincidence to a single moment in which both my physical and spiritual hearts are being renewed. At the conclusion of this process I will sing. “This heart of mine is refreshed and at rest in [God’s] presence.”