A Norvell Note   

August 26, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 34

A Few Words About Words

I’m advocating that we practice the words from Ecclesiastes 5, whether in the house of God or the marketplace, by sharing a few words about words. 

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

² Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
³ A dream comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.

⁴ When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Let your words be few it is sometimes better to be quiet. 

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

A Norvell Note   

August 19, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 33

Two Are Better Than One

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV)

It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!

Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.

By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

(4:9-12, The Message)

Have truer words ever been spoken?

Ask the widow or the widower.

Ask the daughter or son who is the sole caregiver for their mother or father. 

Ask the minister who is trying to lead a church alone. 

Ask the child who is separated from her siblings in a foster home.

Ask a single parent raising children alone. 

It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. If you have a partner, stay close. If you’re not trying to go it alone, that’s good for you. Why? By yourself, you’re unprotected. With a friend, you can face the worst.

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

A Norvell Note   

August 12, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 32

Enjoy Today

When I read the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, I sometimes wonder, “So this is the wisest man who ever lived? Life is a chasing of the wind?” Then, I come to chapter 3.

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

When we are young, we can’t wait until we are older. As we age, we wish we could slow down the aging process. We may try, but we cannot rush time, nor can we slow it down. 

All we can do is live in the moment, enjoy the day, be grateful for the people we share life with, and trust God for all He is and does. Why? 

¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

Live today. Enjoy the day. 

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

A Norvell Note   

August 5, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 31

Mercy and Kindness

I was cutting it close on time to get to a meeting, so as I was leaving the neighborhood, I moved a bit faster than I should have. That’s when I noticed a police officer following me with flashing lights. So, I pulled over and stopped. He asked for my license, informed me of my speed, returned to his cruiser, and returned a few minutes later with my warning citation. I gushed with gratitude for his mercy and kindness. 

For the rest of that day, I consciously tried to show mercy and kindness to everyone I interacted with, including my wife, co-workers, the hospital and nursing home staff, the workers at the coffee shop, and the cleaners. I spent the day thanking God for the officer’s mercy and kindness. 

I should not have needed the police officer’s mercy and kindness to remind me to show mercy and kindness, but unfortunately, I did. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have known for a long time that mercy and kindness are natural outcomes of accepting His mercy and kindness. But sometimes I forget, and sometimes I don’t feel like being merciful or kind.

So, I’m grateful that when a police officer chose to show me mercy and kindness instead of what I deserved, I could adjust my attitude and remember who I am and who I want to be. 

I hope you get through your week without an encounter with a police officer, but if you do, I hope he shows you mercy and kindness. And I hope you will join me in trying to be an instrument of mercy and kindness.   

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