A Norvell Note
Vol. 27 No. 44 November 6, 2023
Thank You
Thank You for the cooler air, rain, and a few colorful trees.
It was a long, hot, and dry summer. We wondered when, and sometimes, if it would ever change. The grass in the lawns and fields and pastures had turned completely brown. The tree leaves looked sad as they hung on for any little bit of sustenance they could get.
Then a front came through with thunderstorms and rain, and behind it, milder temperatures—relief at last. The grass came back to life. The leaves are smiling again. The earth
Experiencing the change from summer to autumn reminds me of how spiritual life transitions from one phase to another and often cycles back around.
The heart gets hard. The capacity to be sympathetic and empathetic gets low, and becoming apathetic is tempting.
The soul grows weary. The soul grows weary when there’s too much sadness and disappointment. It gets harder to remember one’s purpose.
The mind gets overwhelmed. Information comes from every direction twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Much is good. Much of it is terrible. With the influx comes the pressure to decide what one thinks.
The strength gets diminished. Life gets hard, tiring, and draining. Sometimes, it results in the temptation to stop doing good.
Like the earth, it takes refreshment to recover. It may be a vacation, a day off to relax, or an extended period of writing, walking, or extra sleep. It may include quiet time in the Word. What works, like the earth, we need to be refreshed and nourished.
I find it helpful to remember that to the best of my ability, I love the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, and He loves me more. That thought alone refreshes my soul.
Tom
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