Challenges of the Heart

I want to examine the words of Mr. Godwin, who found Falwell unconscious.

I find Godwin's words fascinating not only for the euphemisitic quality, but for the many layers of meaning to be found.

This is what he said regarding Falwell's heart condition:
"He had a history of heart challenges."

A history of heart challenges .. what an interesting choice of words. perhaps, it was the challenges to do as his heart told him, for God, or whatever you name the Creative Generative force, speaks from the heart, and not of from  pocket that led to this. A history of heart challenges perhaps, Godwin was taking stock. Nah. It's as if Godwin couldn't admit that Falwell had a history of heart disease. Is a diabietic now to be called "glycemic challenged"? Think about his choice. What does it convey? That his bad heart was just an annoyance? or, that he was 'challenged' on a deeper, moral level?

What exactly is a "Heart Challenge"? On the spiritual level, it is the call to live by a specific set of ethics that knows no religious constraint or belief.It is that "Golden Rule" first elucidated by Rabbi Hillel:
   If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? (Pirkei Avot 1:14)

   That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."

Both are admonishments to care not only for hte Self, but to care for others. For if you don't care about your own well bening, how can you care aobut the welfare of others?

A history of heart challenges

A history of heart challenges ... perhaps, the graduates would do well to take heed of that phrase.
A history of heart challenges for that is what they will be facing.  
A history of heart challenges it is what is facing all of us today as we work to get our Nation back from the heartless.

A history of heart challenges... Are you listening?

•  I wonder how many of his "heart challenges" were

  caused by the contradictions between what he knew God wanted him to do and what his anger, hatred and frustration caused him to do.

  Falwell was a man who saw the splinters in his brothers' eyes but not the boards, heck: the trees!, in his own.

  by algebrateacher on Wed May 16, 2007 at 03:04:50 PM PST

•  To Falwell that heart challenge

  meant that the US didn't put prayer in the school so its all our fault that he died. Looking out for ourselves is important but it doesn't stop with ourself. Helping others in ways that doesn't harm the others is just the right thing to do. We did not help nor are we helping the Iraqi People. Were just killing them.

  by Owllwoman on Wed May 16, 2007 at 03:08:01 PM PST

•  Nicely said, RoaringGirl. n.t.

  by slksfca on Wed May 16, 2007 at 03:18:06 PM PST

•  "Challenged Heart Syndrome"

  A spiritual disease caused by a person's choice to believe religious or political doctrines that harden his own heart.

  Symptoms include lack of compassion for fellow human beings; the delusion that God hates most people except one's own little group; homophobia; continued hypocrisy visible to everyone except the victim; the belief that one has the God-given right to tell others how to live their lives; fear and loathing of anyone who is unlike oneself; an inordinate love for money and power...........

  Well, there are too many symptoms to list here. The syndrome inevitably is fatal to one's honor and principles and human relationships, and usually causes the victim to become an object of intense hatred.

  The syndrome is easily prevented: those who have made a lifestyle choice to keep a soft heart towards the world will never suffer from this ugly disease.  

  by Ekaterin on Wed May 16, 2007 at 03:23:26 PM PST

•  Mel White of Soul Force

  I have a CD where he discusses his time with the Moral Majority ... at that time the Soviet Union was still around ... he describes a premeditated plan to bring people around the moral majority banner by demonizing the
  "atheists"/"communists"/"secular humanists".

  Then, after the fall of the soviet union, this tactic wasn't effective so gays became the target out-group.

  Thanks for this diary.  There truly is a problem with the heart of someone who would do this to people, their sons, daughters, friends.  It's so sad when people build power by sowing division.  It's a sad legacy for Falwell to leave.

  by sberel on Wed May 16, 2007 at 04:08:18 PM PST

  •  Indeed n/t

    by theRoaringGirl on Wed May 16, 2007 at 04:22:55 PM PST

•  This is an excellent diary TRG

  I really enjoyed reading it.

  I have avoided most of the Falwell diaries, I have my own very strong feelings about him from both a distance, and as a recovering Southern Baptist.  Thus, I've not engaged in any of the discource that has taken place since his passing.

  I really think this is a wonderful take.  I love the quote about the Torah, that says it all.

  As for Mr. Falwell, I know everyone has commented on his homophobia, support for segregation and almost visceral hatred of "liberal."  

  The thing I remember from the 80's is how he publicly went to Pretoria and embraced the Apartheid Regime of South Africa as defenders of Christianity.  This heart challenged man then dissed Archbishop Tutu, a man whose own heart challenge is that he keeps trying to give his away to the world.  

  Jerry Falwell was a very small hearted and little minded man.

  by JEB on Wed May 16, 2007 at 04:20:14 PM PST

•  I caught that, too.

  I didn't analyze it like you did.  Thanks.  It was an interesting turn of phrase.

  by fezzik on Wed May 16, 2007 at 04:20:29 PM PST

  •  my pleasure

    Struck me as a clue into the psychological workings of people such as he. It's such an interesting phrase. A very revealing phrase.

    by theRoaringGirl on Wed May 16, 2007 at 04:26:03 PM PST

•  Falwell

  was an evil bastard. Those with a religious affinity can go on about that part. To me he was just a lousy human being, filled with hatred.

  by RustyBrown on Wed May 16, 2007 at 05:32:32 PM PST