Lives on Earth

heart

  • The Purpose Problem

    Years ago I heard about a book on the purpose-driven life. I rushed to a bookstore (ah, bookstores), only to find that it was mostly about God. But I realized then that I had uncertainties that had snuck up on… Continue reading

  • My New Heart Valve Has a Serial Number

    My first surprise came the day before my aortic valve was to be replaced. My wife and I met with the surgeon. He explained that he would be inserting a cow valve—and by that he meant not an actual valve… Continue reading

  • Before Heart Surgery

    Next week a surgeon will remove my aortic heart valve and sew in a new one. It’s a brutal thing, this fact that someone will carve into my chest and carve out a piece of my heart. But it’s necessary… Continue reading

  • Seasons and Heartbeats

    Age: 68. These days the seasons are less like a perfume to me and more like a clock. When I was young, autumns were my favorite season—painfully romantic, full of the future, life-enhancing and lonely at the same time. The… Continue reading

    Seasons and Heartbeats