Vol. 17 No. 21 | May 25, 2015

It did not seem like a big deal. We were invited to an event, so we went. We enjoyed the gathered and well received. The people who invited us could not stop thanking us. As we left the event they thanked us. Later that night we received a text thanking us again. The next morning we received another text thanking us again. It did not seem like a big deal, but to these people it was a really big deal.

It is what I do. I am a counselor. I listen to people, I try to show compassion and offer godly wisdom when possible. It does not seem like a big deal. To person who is hurting it apparently is a big deal. I have received letters, notes, emails, texts, phone calls, handshakes, hugs and face to face conversations thanking me for doing what I do.

He probably has no idea what an impact he had on me. He was a basketball coach I was a very average junior high kid who wanted to play. I later came to know him better as a godly man with a family, successful in his business, active in the community and his church. His example has stayed with me all these years. He probably has no idea what a big deal it was for him to be kind and encourage that average junior high kid.

He probably did not think it was a big deal. He was my seventh grade math teacher. That was the year my mother died. I was having a difficult time. He knew it. He showed a sad scared and confused seventh grader considerable kindness and grace as he helped me finish the school year with decent grades. I still remember is fifty-one years later. To him it probably did not seem like a big deal.

They may have never realized what a big deal it was for them to be so kind to me. I was just the high school boy dating their daughter. They showed that high school boy an incredible amount of graciousness by feeding me more times than I could recall, taking me to places I would have never gone, introducing me to pizza, and being there when I had questions about faith and church and life. They were just being who they were…wonderful Christian people. Little did they know that the high school boy who was dated their daughter was watching them, listening to them, learning lessons from them that he tries to practice all these years later. To them it probably did not seem like a big deal.

I do not know if he realized what a big deal it was for him to take notice of me. He was the preacher and I was just a high school senior who decided to make a commitment to Jesus. He encouraged me. He always noticed me and acknowledged my presence. When there were major things going on in my world he managed to be there with a kind word, a gentle spirit, and usually some amount of money to help me get through college. To him it probably did not seem to be a big deal. To me it was a big deal and his shepherding ministry lives on.

She may not have considered it to be a big deal when she welcomed me into their home as a young man who would eventually marry her daughter. She saw more potential in me that was actually there. She gave me credit for being a better man than I could possibly be. She praised me a husband and as a father and as a minister and as an important member of the family. To her it was probably not a big deal. To me it has been appreciated for nearly forty years and will be appreciated for the rest of my life.

One time Jesus said these words, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42, NIV)

As we go through life we will have many opportunities to give “a cup of cold water to one of these little ones.” Let’s do everything in our power not to miss those opportunities. Let’s notice and acknowledge when someone gives us a cup of cold water. It may not seem like a big deal at the time, but with God’s involvement for some little one it may be a huge deal.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 20 | May 18, 2015

As many celebrate high school and college graduations I’ve become reflective on my own graduation with the class of 1970. Yes, I can remember that far back. So, today I want to share a couple of those reflections and make a couple of request of those of the class of 2015.

The reflections
1970 in Hope, Arkansas was a tense time. Racial tensions were high. Riots were taking place all over the country. We did not experience riots, but the threat seemed to be bubbling just under the surface. I could not imagine the level of tension being any higher than it was in 1970. In the last couple of years I have seen tension that equals or surpasses that of 1970. The difference? In 1970 most recognized and admitted there was a racial problem in our country, and in 2015 many cannot or will not admit there is a racial problem in our country.

1970 in Hope, Arkansas most of us were ready to get on with the rest of our lives. Most of us were ready to go to college, get a job, or is some other way get away from home. Some hoped to change the world. Some hoped to become fame and accumulate wealth. Some hoped to find themselves. Some hoped to move to a place where they could be themselves. From what I can tell there are some who made significant changes in the world, if not the entire world at least their immediate world. Some have achieved some level of fame and other have accumulated significant wealth. Some are still searching for themselves. Some moved to places where they could truly be who they really are. The difference? In 1970 most of us were full of idealism, hope, completely convinced the world will be a better place because we will be in it, and in 2015 many of us have departed, a few have lost some of our hope, others have settled for a life somewhat less than we had planned, and probably all of us live with the disappointment of a few dreams that have never come true.
With admitted bias I have always considered the Hope High School class of 1970 to be an exceptional class that handled a difficult time and less than ideal circumstances with as much dignity and grace as possible. My reflections on our graduating class prompts me to offer these thoughts

Always remember that no matter where you go, what you do, or what you become you have people who will always love you. Sometimes remembering those people will help you find your way home when you have lost your way. The Prodigal Son is the story of a boy who left home to live life the way he wanted to live it. He failed. He lost everything. He was alone. He began to think about his home and Father. He could not imagine that his Father would still love him or let him back in the house, he decided to go home, apologize, and beg to be considered a hired hand. To his surprise as he approached the home of his childhood his father, ran to him, embraced him, welcomed him home with a party, new clothes, and a ring on his finger. (Luke 15) Always remember that you are loved.
Never stop reaching for your dreams. Your dreams may not be realized as soon as quickly as you hope. You may find it more difficult that you imagined to accomplish your dreams. You may have to alter some of your dreams. But never stop reaching for your dreams. After a complete transformation of life and direction Paul described who he had been and that he was striving forward and forgetting the past. (Philippians 2) Never stop reaching for your dreams.

This is a time of reflection, a time of dreaming, this is a time of letting go, and this is ceasing the opportunity to pursue your dreams. Stay connected and know you are loved.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 19 | May 11, 2015

It seems that a major part of what is required to get through life involves learning how to live as much life as possible between the interruptions and distractions.

For example, you have a day set aside to work in your office complete a project, research and set deadlines for new projects, and get through the paperwork that has piled up over the last few weeks. You are making head way and feeling good about the day, when a customer calls with a problem that must be handled immediately.

On another day you start out on a routine trip to visit a family member. You leave ahead of schedule. Traffic is moving along smoothly. You are making great time, then suddenly your car stops. You use all your mechanical by raising the hood and looking intently at the engine. Two-and-a-half-hours later you are back on the road.

You are cruising through life. Your career is going well. Your family is healthy. You have money in the bank. You live in a great neighborhood. You have good neighbors and are well respected in the community. One day it all changes. Your wife goes in for a routine checkup. The results are far from routine. It’s cancer. Your whole world is turned upside down.

You have your future planned out exactly how you want to go. Your retirement portfolio is looking great. You are moving up the corporate ladder by leaps and bounds. You are rocking and rolling! Then, your company is purchased and your department is downsized. You were blindsided and devastated.

Your own story would sound very similar. You know the disappointment. You understand the feeling of devastation. You have had your confidence replaced with fear. So, what do you do? How do you recover? Every situation is different so I will not attempt tell how to live your life, but I will offer a few suggestions on how to make the most of life between the interruptions.

Accept that interruptions and distractions will come. Interruptions and distractions will come. Expect them. Accept them. If possible, as best as you can, plan for them. They happen. Accept that they happen.

Realize that some of life’s greatest blessings show up disguised as interruptions and distractions. God loves to surprise us by taking what initially looks like the worst thing that could possibly happen and turning it into an amazing blessing. I do not know how He does it. I do not have an explanation for why He does things like He does them. But, I know He does them. When the interruptions and distractions come look for the good that may be hiding behind the bad. If you find it, enjoy being surprised.

Understand that being interrupted and distracted does not necessarily have to ruin your day. If you allow it to the interruption can send you into a foul mood and wreck your entire day. If you allow it the distractions can mess up any chance of finding any joy in your day. That can happen but it does not necessarily have to happen. You can control your attitude. You can determine if your day is ruined or if it is salvageable.

There is no doubt that there will be days when you are interrupted from what you have determined the important stuff of your day. It is just as certain that there will be times when you set your sites on a plan and direction for your day, your week, or your life and something will get you off track. It is in those moments between the interruptions and distractions that determine the end result of a day or a life. Consider well what you do and how you respond and do your best to make the most of your life between the interruptions.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 18 May 4, 2015
When I am sitting at my desk in my office, if I turn my chair to face the window, because the window is above my eye level, I can the tops of several trees, the top of a utility pole, part of the sky, and part of a roof line of one of the homes in our neighborhood. If I stand I can see not only the roof of the house, but the backyard as well. If I stand not only can I see the top of the trees, but I can see the entire shape of the trees, the pavilion and the playground as well. If I stand not only can I see part of the sky, if I stand I can see the whole expanse of the sky.

When I am sitting in my living room in our home and I look out the two glass doors and the glass above the door I can see a piece of the sky, part of a patio chair, one small tree in the courtyard, and the back of some of the other condos in our complex. When I move from my chair, walk to the door, open it and step out on the patio, plants on our patio, and two chairs, a patio umbrella, and I can see the entire courtyard, and the entire eastern sky.

When I look at the world from my normal perspective my vision is limited. When I see natural disasters my limited perspective causes me shake my head in disbelief and ask, “Why Lord?” When I see the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, my limited perspective leads me to question the fairness of the Lord. When I see injustice and abuse of power my limited understanding tempts me to assume that the Lord loves some more than others. When I see pain and suffering my limited imagination does not allow me to comprehend how anything good can come from what I see.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-12, NIV)
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. (2 Kings 6:16-18, NIV)

Father, I long for the day when I will see things more clearly than I see now. I long for a level of maturity that will allow me to understand things that are too grand for me to understand today. I long for a degree of compassion that will allow me to feel more love and concern that I now possess. I long for eyes to see what You see. Until I can see more clearly, understand things that are too grand for me, and find greater compassion, Father, I trust You to see what I cannot see, know what I cannot know, and do what I cannot do.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.