A Norvell Note for May 28, 2022

Vol. 26 No. 21

Life in a Whirlwind

         Our daughter-in-law was inside the school our two older granddaughters attend while we waited outside, doing our best to entertain the two little girls. It was a windy day in Brooklyn. A small whirlwind began to form in a cove just outside the school’s door. I stood there gently rocking the stroller back and forth, watching the whirlwind. 

         The wind picked pieces of debris that had collected in the area. Leaves, bits of grass, candy wrappers, and a plastic bag spun them in the air. Occasionally the wind would calm, the trash would float to the ground, then it would start up again, adding a few and dropping others. I stood there watching the cycle repeat itself and thought, this is life right now. 

         Life in a whirlwind is real. We stand in the middle as the events of life fly around us. Jobs, friends, children, grandchildren, sickness, church, health, vacations, life, death, weddings, funerals, failures, victories, and some things we do not recognize spin around us faster than we can comprehend and manage. But somehow, we survive. 

         Life in a whirlwind surprises us. I’m not sure why it’s surprising, but it is. Should we expect it? Shouldn’t we know by now that things will change, and life will batter us from all directions? Maybe we should, but we are shocked when the winds pick up, and the debris starts whirling around us.

         There can be peace in the middle of a whirlwind. We hear meteorologists talk about the calm that exists in the eye of a storm. If I were somehow to stand in the middle of the small whirlwind, I suppose it would be a relatively peaceful place. Maybe this is what Paul had in mind when he talked about the “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

         It doesn’t make sense, but somehow God assures us that we can have peace during the storm. “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39). “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Mark 24:36)

         I don’t understand it, but life in a whirlwind can be peaceful. I see it in others. I experience it myself. 

You give us peace even in the whirlwind. Thank You. 

Follow Junie’s Story: welovejunieblue

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2022 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.  

A Norvell Note for May 23, 2022

Vol. 26 No. 20

Everything Changed – Again 

Another child with a brain tumor does not make sense. The news came two weeks ago, but it still doesn’t make sense. We’re all still reeling from what has happened during the last twelve months. How are we supposed to deal with this? Again, it does not make sense, it hurts beyond description, and it has changed everything – again. 

So, what do we do? What can we do? 

We wake up in the morning, hope it was only a horrible dream, then face reality. Take several deep breaths and move into the activities of the day. 

We watch as those under the most pressure trudge through the demands that cannot wait. We watch, and we listen for ways to help. 

We pray, or we try to pray, for wisdom, understanding, and strength to get through the next hour. We pray for signs that things are improving, and we watch for signs of answered prayers. 

We do what we can, hoping that doing what we can is enough. Then, finally, we reach the end of the day, reflect on what we have done, and try to accept that we have done all we can for one day.

We try to rest. The nights are short, the days are long, and another day begins before we are ready. We start with the same realization that everything has just changed – again. 

Follow Junie’s Story: welovejunieblue

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2022 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.  

A Norvell Note for May 9, 2022

Vol. 26 No. 19

In the Morning

Listen to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:1-3)

In the morning, I usually feel strong. It may take a coffee or two to get me going, but I feel strong and ready for the day.

In the morning, optimism does not come easily, but I can usually face the day with more hope after a few moments of quiet meditation, confession, prayer, writing in my journal, and spending time in the Word. 

In the morning, I pray that I will be a better man than yesterday. I lament the actions, the words, and the failures of the previous day. I lament the things that did not go the way I wanted. 

In the morning, I ask (sometimes cry) for God to help me be that better man and do good things during the day.

In the morning, I am confident that He hears my voice, and I find comfort knowing that He listens and hears my voice.

In the morning I lay out my requests before Him. Somedays, my list is short. Somedays, my list is long. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that He never tires of my asking. 

In the morning, I wait expectantly. But, as I said earlier, sometimes optimism and expectancy take a while. And, on some days, I feel that I’m asking too much – expecting too much. And, on some mornings, I don’t wait. Instead, I get impatient and try to force things to go the way I want.  

In the mornings, when I ponder that He is listening for me and to me, when I cry out to Him and layout my requests and wait for Him to act, my day goes better. When I rush into the day thinking it’s all up to me, it’s a different story. 

In the morning, I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly, wait expectantly, wait, and wonder. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2022 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.  

A Norvell Note for May 2, 2022

Vol. 26 No. 18

A Water Bottle

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)

The lady was standing on the median at a traffic light on a busy street on a sweltering day. She was holding a cardboard sign that read, “Lost my job. Need help! Please.” I sat at the light on my comfortable air-conditioned car, reached for a water bottle, rolled down the window, and offered it to her. “Oh, thank you. God bless you.” It was just a bottle of water.

He stopped by my office and shared his story. It was not a new story. I had heard many versions of the same story before. He needed money to get back home, and he wanted gas money, and he promised to send me the money when he got settled. I gave him $10. ($10 would buy more gas then than it will today.) The man thanked me “from the bottom of his heart” and promised to repay me. It was only $10.

I was a college student when my dad died. I went home for the weekend and the funeral. Several of my friends made the five-to-six-hour drive to be with me for the funeral. When I thanked them, they made it seem like no big deal. But, of course, it was a big deal! To me, it meant the world. 

Earlier that same weekend, the preacher from the church came to our house to visit. With soft and gentle encouraging words, he shook my hand as he was leaving and in his hand was a generous check with a notation “for Thomas Norvell.”

Those are just a few stories of how a small action or gift – a cup of cold water – made a significant difference in the life of a single individual. Of course, none of these actions or gifts were substantial, nor did they get much attention. But they made a difference. 

This week try to find something you can do for someone to make their day better. You may not change their whole world, but you can change it one day for one person. Pay for the customer’s order behind you at Starbucks. Donate to a fund to help someone. Take time to listen to someone. If nothing else, keep a bottle of water in your car. It will make a difference.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2022 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

You may read past articles at A Norvell Note.