EKG: Echoes of Kindness and Grace
By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
If someone hooked up a spiritual EKG to your heart, what would it reveal? Not the organ beating in your chest, but the heart of who you are the part of you that loves, forgives, and occasionally messes up big time. Would it show steady rhythms of generosity and warmth, or would there be erratic skips where anger and pride snuck in?
I’ve thought about this a lot lately. Probably too much. But here’s the thing: our hearts tell a story, whether we’re paying attention or not. And let me tell you, mine has written a few messy chapters.
Examining the Heart
Let’s be honest, most of us avoid self-reflection like it’s a dentist appointment. It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward. And half the time, we’re not even sure we want to know what’s really going on under the surface. But when you take a moment to pause, to actually sit with yourself and your thoughts, it’s like opening a window in a stuffy room. It’s refreshing.
Years ago, I went through a season where I felt like I couldn’t get anything right. Work was a mess, relationships on every level were strained, and I was carrying around enough self-doubt to fill a moving truck. One night, sitting on my porch with nothing but the sound of crickets and my own restless thoughts, it hit me: I’d been running from my own heart. I’d been too scared to see the parts of myself that needed healing.
Kindness: The Heart’s Steady Beat
Here’s the truth about kindness: it’s not just for the big moments. It’s in the little things the quick text to check on a friend, the patience you show when someone cuts you off in traffic (still working on that one), and even the grace you give yourself when you fall short.
But let’s not kid ourselves. Being kind isn’t always easy. There’s this annoying voice in our heads sometimes that says, “Why should I be nice when they’re being awful?” Trust me, I’ve been there. But every time I choose kindness over bitterness, my heart feels lighter. It’s like it’s saying, “Thanks for not making me carry that grudge around.”
Grace Fills the Gaps
Grace is like a safety net for the soul. It catches us when we fall, even when we don’t deserve it. And the best part? It’s not something we have to earn. The Creator gives it freely, whether we’re on our best behavior or not.
I used to think grace was for “good” people whatever that means. But the more I’ve lived, the more I’ve realized that grace isn’t about worthiness; it’s about love. I’ve had moments where I’ve hurt others, where I’ve failed to live up to my own standards. And yet, grace was there, whispering, “It’s okay. You’re still growing.”
What Does Your Heart Say?
If your heart could talk, what would it say about you? Would it boast about your victories, or would it quietly remind you of the times you chose compassion over pride?
Not too long ago, I had one of those “aha” moments while reflecting on my own heart. It wasn’t a lightning bolt of clarity, more like a gentle nudge. I realized that my heart isn’t perfect (far from it), but it’s still capable of love, forgiveness, and growth. And that’s enough.
A Little Humor, A Lot of Hope
If my heart could text me, it’d probably send something cheeky like, “Chill out, Kateb. You’re doing fine. Also, stop eating so much junk food.” Hearts are funny like that they work so hard to keep us alive, and we rarely stop to thank them.
So here’s my challenge to you (and to myself): check your heart’s rhythm. Not just the physical one, but the spiritual one. Is it beating in time with kindness? Is it letting grace fill the spaces where love has been hard to give?
Life’s too short to let your heart grow heavy with grudges or regret. Let’s aim for hearts that beat with purpose, that love fiercely, and that show the world what it means to truly live.
Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
If you’re heart ❤️ could talk 👄 what truly would it say.
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