Vol. 22 No. 13 | March 30, 2020

Finding myself with a little more time on my hands this week, I started listing things that didn’t seem to matter as much as they did a few days ago. 

• Email offers for discounted golf balls
• Airlines offering great travel deals 
• Ads like, “Be secluded in the perfect vacation hideaway.”
• Road sign: Guardrail damage ahead. (Not Covid-related, but I’ve never understood why we need to know this information.)
• Shaving and the need for a haircut
• Church leaders who are still pondering: “To Cancel or Not to Cancel: That Is the Question.”
• Opinions – mine and yours
• Arguing
• My ego
• Yesterday
• Tomorrow

Then I started listing what matters most and always has.

• Relationships – family and genuine friendships 
• Good healthcare
• Men and women who have the courage and compassion to use their skills to take care of others
• Birds – flying, singing, and just being birds
• Words- those that I use to bring joy and encouragement to others, and those that bring joy and encouragement to me
• Living in this moment
• Being quiet and still
• Music
• The ability to walk
• A nice breeze
• Good neighbors
• God’s constant and abiding presence

These are just simple lists to keep track of the way I’m adjusting my thinking to stay mentally and spiritually healthy during a time of uncertainty and dramatic change. 

In a way, these lists are simply counting my blessings. But they are also helping to calm my soul and remind me of what is really important and what isn’t. 

May I encourage you to do the same. Start with your family, friends, faith and God’s faithfulness. Pay attention to the world around you. Clear your head and listen to your thoughts, listen to your heart. Pause. Reflect on what matters.

Then, when you finish making your list, sing these words:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 12 | March 23, 2020

Even in the Valley

Words are plentiful right now. We are hearing words about disease and distress; bitterness and blame; and thankfully, humor and hope. Words are plentiful, yet here I sit, searching for the right ones to comfort, encourage, and bring you hope.  

As I search, I remember these words: 

Even though I walk 

…the valley of the shadow of death…

through the darkest valley

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

So with  these words in mind, I pray:

Father, we are in the darkest of valleys, darker than most of us have ever walked through. We confess that we are sometimes afraid, confused, sad, and lonely. And it is sometimes difficult to hear Your words above all the others coming from fear, anger, frustration. 

So, Father, we ask You to remind us in very real ways that You are our Shepherd, and as our Shepherd, we are protected and safe. Give us words that comfort, and help us share those words so others can find comfort. Remind us that, even in the dark valleys, we are not alone. And remind us of other dark valleys through which we have walked safely with You before. 

Father, thank You for Your words of comfort, for being our Shepherd, and for walking beside us, even in the valley, as we make our way to the other side. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 11 | March 16, 2020

A Different Norm

This weekend, I would normally be settling in to watch a full day of college basketball, which would normally be followed by three weeks of March Madness. I might occasionally switch channels to the final rounds of the Players Championship in anticipation of the upcoming  Master’s Tournament and I would not be watching the news and press conferences.

Normally, I would have had my hair cut this morning. I wouldn’t be worried about touching my face or making sure I wash or sanitize my hands after touching every foreign object. And I would not have the phrase “social distancing” as part of my vocabulary. And normally, our communities wouldn’t be clearing the shelves of toilet paper and taking such drastic measures to isolate and protect ourselves.

 I know we’re all feeling frustrated and anxious, and struggling to remain calm in the midst of all the chaos and fear. So here are a couple of suggestions from a fellow struggler with the hope that they will provide some comfort in these unsettling times. 

Be informed, but don’t allow fear to consume you.

Take a break from the news and do something that relaxes or brings you joy. You can stay informed by checking one trustworthy news source. But obsessively listening to the fear-based theories and stories will only create more fear. At this point, less is more

Be cautious, but don’t disconnect. 

Practice social distancing and solitude when necessary, but stay in touch with your friends and family. We are blessed to have the technology to call, text, email, and video chat with the people we care about. And since everything seems to be shutting down, you might even have time to write a real handwritten letter.

Be calm and enjoy the downtime. 

You can spend the extra time you have at home doing things that uplift and relax you. Watch a movie, read a book, take a walk, or listen to music. And although many churches are canceling public gatherings, you can still find their sermons streaming online. 

One of the most positive things I’ve heard that I keep coming back to is this: We are in this together, we will get through this, and God is enough. And we will. By coming together, even if physically separated, and by leaning on God for guidance and comfort, we will get through this. 

“I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

So please, be informed, be cautious, and be calm. And remember He has you and the whole world in His hands (sanitized and germ-free)

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020 

Vol. 22 No. 10 | March 9, 2020

A Prayer for Tennessee

Father, You are the only One who can truly understand the tremendous amount of pain and suffering the people of Tennessee are experiencing-within seconds, homes were leveled, lives were lost, and families were forever changed. 

I lift them up to You, Lord, asking You to provide for their needs. 

Countless people no longer have a place to sleep, a vehicle to drive, water to drink, clothes to wear, or food to eat.

Many more need help dealing with trauma and new fears they might not even be able to name, including those who weren’t directly impacted.

And almost everyone knows someone who needs comforting and time to grieve the deaths of their children, parents, relatives, and friends.  

Help them to know how they might help others. 

Whether we acknowledge it or not, regardless of our circumstances, every single one of us needs and deserves the healing love of Your presence. 

I lift them up to You, Lord, asking You to provide for their needs. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Another way to help: One Generation Away

A Norvell Note 2020 

Vol. 22 No. 09 | March 2, 2020

Most of us know the famous line from the horror film, The Fly, “Be afraid. Be very afraid.” Although the film came out in the ’80s, this line keeps popping into my head, because it seems to be the place we are all operating from. 

Each political candidate warns us about how dangerous their opponent is. We’re so afraid of mass shootings, we avoid going to public places. We’re afraid of Coronavirus. We’re afraid of not being able to afford our medications. Or if we can afford them, we’re afraid they won’t work. We’re afraid of not finding a job, then when we find one, we’re afraid of losing it. We’re afraid we won’t have enough money, then when we have enough, we’re afraid of running out.

“Be afraid. Be very afraid.” 

It’s true, we live in a culture saturated with fear. I get frustrated when I find myself letting it control my life. Because deep down, The only way I know to avoid being controlled by fear is to stay focused on the One who is watching over us. 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

    he who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

he sun will not harm you by day,

    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—

    he will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going

    both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121)

We live in scary times and can’t avoid being impacted by some of the threats we face. But we also live in times that are good and exciting. So instead of focusing our attention on what scares us, why not focus on the things that inspire and bring us peace. 

God did not put us here to walk around in a constant state of fear. He is love, the opposite of fear, and we are His creations, which means we are made of love. We have a choice- we can choose to consume media that reminds us of all the death and gloom, or we can focus on the positive stories and events that are happening in our lives. 

This doesn’t mean we have to live with our heads in the sand. We can just choose to approach our day from a place of love, look for it and find ways to share it- with ourselves and others- through our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. If we do this, we are letting God work through us- the greatest source of power there is. 

Look to God, focus on His source of love, and the things you fear don’t stand a chance. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

---

^[1] https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/be-afraid,-be-very-afraid.html