A Norvell Note   

July 1, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 26

Thanks, Wonder, Awe, Joy

Uncrustables. ^© Where have you been all my life?

I am late to the game, but I only recently discovered Uncrustables. ^© On the golf course, my son handed me one and said, “You want one of these?” Whaaaaat? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich that is not messy? Uncrustables^© are amazing!

Then, last week, my wife informed me that she could get them at the grocery store. She did. I took one in the car for work and enjoyed it for a late-morning snack, in the car. No mess. Uncrustables^© are amazing. Uncrustables. ^© Where have you been all my life?

I listened to John Ortberg’s podcast, Become New, as he suggests that our response to the world and the universe around us might be thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. I listened, and I pondered those thoughts. 

My response to Uncrustables^© was of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. I reacted similarly to the beauty of the golf course we were playing. And to the sunrise, I by at the ocean. I responded similarly to the rainbow we saw after a brief rain shower. The sunsets and the massive waves crashing on the rocks filled me with thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. I experience thanks, wonder, awe, and joy as I notice the growth and maturity of our grandchildren. 

We heard an unusual sound a few nights ago, so I stepped onto our back porch and discovered a jet drifting across the night sky. That is amazing, but the backdrop of stars brought feelings of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy.

Everything I’ve mentioned above ignites feelings of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy. But none compares to the feelings of thanks, wonder, awe, and joy when I ponder these words: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)

Uncrustables. ^© Where have you been all my life? Jesus, thank You for being there when I needed you most. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Jun 24, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 25

Grief Is Good

Richard Rohr’s Week Twenty-Six: Holy Lament, The Universal Need to Grieve describes how grief isn’t rational in our culture: “As anyone who has experienced grief canattest, it isn’t rational. We really don’t know how to hurt! We simply don’t know what to do with our pain.” 

We avoid grief. We deny grief. And we consider it unnatural and unnecessary. “We would much rather be angry than sad.” Rohr further defines grief as “unfinished hurt.” “We have to learn to remain open to our grief, to wait in patient expectation for what it has to teach us. When we close in too tightly around our sadness or grief, when we try to fix it, control it, or understand it, we only deny ourselves its lessons. “

Rohr’s article discusses grief as we deal with the death of a loved one, but we also experience grief from other losses. We might grieve over the loss of a friendship, the loss of a pet, the loss of a job, or the loss of a dream. In essence, we may be experiencing grief at any time. 

So, how are you doing with your grief? If you ignore your grief, it will work against you. Grief must do its work. Don’t be afraid to grieve. Grief is good and good for you. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note   

Jun 17, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 24

Listen

If I could offer one word of advice to every human being, it would be this: Listen. 

Listen. Don’t prejudge. 

Listen. Don’t tell your story. 

Listen. Don’t try to top their story.

Listen. Don’t interrupt. 

Listen. Don’t assume.

Listen.

Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matthew 11:15)

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

Listen.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note   

Jun 10, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 23

Our Time Is Limited

We live in an amazing world, and the Creator filled the earth with unimaginable beauty—unimaginable until we see it. There is so much to see, hear, and do. Our time here is limited, so we’re trying to take it all in.

Thanks to the hospitality of our son and daughter-in-law, we are experiencing beautiful sunsets, ocean views, golf courses, the colors and sounds of nature, quiet moments, and family moments filled with laughter and a few tears. Our time here is limited, so we’re trying to take it all in. 

If we know that our time on earth is limited, it’s not always possible or necessary to travel 3700 miles to find everyday blessings from the Lord. If you ever have the opportunity, go. If we open our eyes and ears, we can see His face and hear His voice no matter where we are.

In the early morning, a bird often sits on the streetlight in front of our house or on the roof next door, singing to remind all who listen that this is the day the Lord has made.

Not long ago, I pulled my car over and stopped long enough to watch a mother deer love on her new spotted fawn. 

While I was enjoying the sound of the waves and ocean breeze, two of our granddaughters were pretending to be on a grand adventure while climbing a tree. The combination of sights and sounds was a joyful noise to the Lord. 

I know that my opportunities to play golf are limited. So, when I do get to play, I try not to be so serious about my score that I miss the beauty and peacefulness of my surroundings. That doesn’t always work, but I try. 

Remembering that my time on earth is limited helps me develop a grateful heart and sustain an appreciation for the sights, sounds, and people God places in my daily path. 

I know that life in the next world promises to be even more beautiful and spectacular than this present world and will make this world pale in comparison. That will be more than we can ask or imagine, but if we pay attention, so is this world. So, let’s not rush past all that God wants us to experience during our limited time here. 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Enjoy today, and help others do the same. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note   

Jun 3, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 22

Live to the Fullest

The story of Bill Walton’s passing saddened me. For those who don’t know, he was an outstanding college and professional basketball who went on to be a very entertaining broadcaster. And from all accounts from those who knew him personally, he was a better person. “He loved life and was so full of life” is a standard description of how he lived his life. Walton always had a big smile on his face. He lived life to the fullest. 

Long before Bill captured his first rebound or slammed his first dunk, he described his reason for coming to earth. He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus wanted us to live with gusto and enthusiasm. He didn’t want us to allow the Enemy to destroy our love for living and steal our joy for loving life and people. His desire for us was, and is, life to the full. 

And yet, the Enemy still wants to steal, kill, and destroy everything good in life. He wants to steal your love for your neighbor. The Enemy wants to kill your effort to live a good life and be a good person. He wants to destroy your joy in enjoying a sunrise or a sunset, pausing to listen to the birds sing their songs of praise, or sitting quietly as your children or grandchildren tell you stories. 

Don’t let him. Keep loving people. Keep enjoying a slower pace. Keep watching those sunrises and sunsets. Keep hitting repeat when you hear a favorite song. There’s so much to see and hear. Keep living life and live it to the fullest.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved