A Norvell Note forthe week of October 12, 2020
Vol. 23 No. 28
While reading in the Gospel of John, I came across a sticky note at the beginning of chapter 11. That’s the chapter where Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, has died. Jesus shows up, weeps for, and with the people, then brings Lazarus back to life. The sticky note reads: “Agents of life in a world of death.”
The quote is from a sermon I heard a few years ago (Thanks Josh Graves) before I began working in hospice care as an encouragement to be life-giving people in our communities. Now it speaks more directly to my role in the lives of my patients and their families. I am an agent of life in a world of death.
During this season of political and social, and the number of deaths from the Coronavirus has surpassed 210,000, we all can be agents of life in a world of death.
We can be agents of life in a world of death with our words. We can speak the truth, speak clearly, speak with kindness.
We can be agents of life in a world of death with our actions. “Act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”
We can be agents of life in a world of death with our presence. This message continually rings in my ears: Be present. Live in the now. Be where you are.
Being agents of life in a world of death is both a challenge and an honor. To think that our words, actions, and physical presence can make a positive difference is what being a follower of Jesus is all about. It is what being human is all about.
As you go about your day, remember you are an agent of life in a world of death. Give life. Give hope.
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved