In 1972, the New York Times reported that more than 3,000 people in the U.S. choked to death that year, making it the sixth most common cause of accidental death. A Cincinnati surgeon began to search for a better way to rescue a choking victim. He conceptualized using air that was compressed in the lungs to help expel whatever was blocking the windpipe. He published his informal findings in the June 1974 issue of Emergency Medicine.
On June 16, 1974 Arthur Snider covered those findings in a medical column for the Chicago Daily News, which was syndicated in several hundred newspapers. One week later, on June 23, 1974, a Seattle newspaper headline declared: “News Article Helps Prevent a Choking Death”. The story described a retired restaurant owner named Isaac Piha who had read Snider’s article seven days earlier. He discovered Irene Bogachuse choking on a piece of chicken, performed the maneuver, and saved her life. Since the invention of this technique, the maneuver, named after its inventor, Dr. Henry J. Heimlich, has saved thousands of lives.
In John chapter 6 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”, but people immediately began to “choke” on his words. It started small, with quiet irritation, moved to a rumbling grumble, broke out into a dispute, and eventually people started leaving him. John 6:66 says, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” Yet Jesus wasn’t worried. He was confident that God was at work.
Read through all of John chapter 6 before Sunday. It reads like a freshly baked loaf of braided bread. Watch for repeated themes that weave in and out like a braid. And speaking of bread, thank you to the many folks who have brought by or sent me pictures of their baked goods this past week! I’m afraid you are only adding to my carb addiction!
I hope some of those delicious goodies will show up at the Tent Fest on Saturday night! Don’t forget to bring a jacket, as it might get a little chilly. If you haven’t signed up yet, please get all the details and sign up here.
In Christ,
Kurt
P.S. In May of 2016 Dr. Heimlich performed his maneuver at the senior living community where he was living and saved the life of Patty Gil Ris, 87. He was 96 years old at the time. Keep looking for people who need to be saved!