The Source of Life’s Energy — The Heart and Lungs

Peter Lee

Every moment of human life depends on energy. To maintain body temperature, fuel the brain’s thoughts, enable movement, and support metabolism—all require a constant flow of energy. This vital energy arises from the harmonious work of the heart and lungs. In essence, the quality of heart and lung function determines the quality of life; their rhythm is the rhythm of life itself.

When we speak of the heart and lungs, one cannot help but think of a great river.

In youth, the heart and lungs are like the river’s source—springing from high mountains, clear and forceful, rushing forward with energy and purity. Blood vessels are flexible, circulation is vigorous, and life pulses with vitality and passion.

As we reach middle age, the river flows into its midstream. The current slows, sediments begin to settle, and the once-turbulent waters grow calm or even sluggish. Likewise, the heart and lungs lose some of their vigor; arteries harden, plaques accumulate, and blood flow becomes less efficient. Organs begin to suffer from inadequate circulation, and hypertension often follows as a natural consequence.

In fact, high blood pressure can be seen as a warning signal from the body’s intelligent feedback system. When vital organs such as the brain and kidneys are not receiving enough blood, the body makes a choice—between allowing organ failure or increasing blood pressure to sustain function. It instinctively opts for the latter, preserving life at a cost. Yet chronic hypertension brings its own dangers, leading to new layers of disease. Thus, when high blood pressure appears, it often signifies that the heart, lungs, and vascular system are already under strain.

In old age, the river reaches its lower course. The slope diminishes, the waters slow, and the current grows cloudy. The heart and lungs weaken, breath becomes shorter, circulation sluggish. Yet the mind, paradoxically, often expands—becoming deeper, broader, more serene. Life enters its tranquil, transcendent phase.

From the roaring upper stream to the gentle lower flow, the great river’s descent lessens and its force wanes. Its waters turn from crystal clarity to earthy richness before merging with the vast ocean. So too does a human life evolve—from passion to peace, from physical strength to spiritual breadth. The rhythm of the heart and lungs traces this journey, guiding life from its first pulse to its final return to nature’s eternal embrace.