January 18 – Vol. 30 No. 03

He Is More

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Those words sometimes surprise me, but sometimes they do.

When I see and hear the violence and hatred in the world, I think surely the Lord disapproves of it as I do. But He seems to allow it to continue. 

When I go into rants (mainly on the inside) about the cruelty, the selfishness, and pride that exist within the leadership of world powers, I think surely the Lord must have His own times of ranting. He seems to be silent. 

When I observe the selfishness and pride in my own life, I think surely the Lord does not love me. Yet He continues to feed me, satisfy my thirst, clothe me, and allows me to speak for Him.

To say that His thoughts are not my thoughts, and His ways are higher than my ways, is an enormous understatement. 

When I think I am righteous and holy, He is more virtuous and blessed than I can even dream of. When I feel generous and forgiving, He is even more gracious and forgiving. When I pat myself on the back for being such a good person, His goodness puts me to shame.

There are times when I wish His thoughts and ways could be more like mine. When those egotistical thoughts pass, I thank Him for being the God He is, and for loving this frail, broken man that I am. 

Thank You, Lord, in this moment of quiet reflection, for reminding me of who You are and for loving me as one of Your children. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

January 11 – Vol. 30 No. 02

Time Flies

Many people have heard the saying, “Time flies when you are having fun.” Over the years, I have realized that time seems to fly by, regardless of whether I am enjoying myself or not. Another idea often shared is that the perception that time moves quickly is a sign of old age. While I am not sure if that is true, I can certainly say that time appears to be moving so swiftly these days that I often struggle to keep pace.

Days tend to blend into one another—one day becoming the next, and before I realize it, the weekend has come and gone, only for the cycle to begin again. Over the three decades I have written and shared these Norvell Notes, my goal has been to complete and post each note by 11:00 PM CST. As the week begins, I find myself searching for the right words and wondering how to put them together. More times than I care to admit, I am still making final edits as the clock strikes 11:00 PM or even later.

We have swiftly entered 2026, a year I am not sure I ever envisioned living to see. Yet here we are. Time has flown, time is flying, and time will continue to fly. Fun or no fun. 

Let us move forward, whether times move swiftly or slowly. Let us move forward with confidence that the Lord will move with us, move along with us, and move within us. Let us move into the days, weeks, and years ahead, seeing the possibilities and leaving the past behind. One day at a time.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

January 1, 2026 – Vol. 30 No. 01

Let’s Do It Again

In the recent movie, Jay Kelly, George Clooney’s character, reflects on his life, portraying an actor near the end of his career. As he reflects on the filming of scenes, one of the crew says, “That’s a wrap.” Jay Kelly says, “Let’s do it again.” There is a tone of sadness as he realizes he can’t change the past, but he hopes for a chance to do it again.

As a year ends and another begins, and the decades continue to pile up in my life, I confess there are more times than I can count when I said those words, “let’s do it again.” I said something stupid or hurtful, and I wish I could take it back. I made a foolish decision, and I immediately wished I could do it over. 

As much as I wish I could have another chance to do it again, to make up for all the mistakes and missteps, I am grateful that, at the end of every day, week, and year, I can start over. Because of the grace and mercy of our Lord, He also says, “Let’s do that again.” 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations, 3:22-23)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youfree from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Feeling the need to do it again. Wish you could start over. There is no better time than now. Start the new year by starting over. You can do it again.

Happy New Year. I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

December 21, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 48

A Simple Prayer

Let us be people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I don’t know what else to say. 

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

December 14, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 47

Give and Receive

The church promotes the event as an “act of service – an opportunity to give to those in need.” We had participated before and enjoyed it, so we put our names on the list to be greeters. We were to meet a family, walk with them as they selected a coat, take a family photo, help them get a name tag, and then escort them to the dining area.

The total time, including travel, was about 90 minutes. Little did I know that this “act of service” would bring me so much more than I gave. 

I introduced myself to the mother and her two children as we headed to the coat room. The room was packed with mothers and fathers searching through the coats piled high on tables, sorted by size. I stood by with a bag to hold their coats once selected. That’s when she (the little girl) found her coat. The lady assisting her handed her a pink jacket just her size. The look on her face when she turned around to show her mom was priceless. My heart “grew three sizes that day.”

Her smile spread across her face, her eyes could not have opened any wider, and she said, “Mom, I want this one!” The smile on her mother’s face was just as big. The lump in my throat also “grew three sizes that day.”

I have long known that “it is better to give than receive” (Acts 20:35), and this experience has reminded me that often when you give, you also receive.

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

December 7, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 46

Maybe It’s Not Your Fault

“There’s a certain peace that shows up when you stop turning every inconvenience into a personal failure. Sometimes things go wrong because life is messy – not because you’re doing anything wrong. Once that clicks, the world feels a lot less hostile.” (Unknown) 

Stuff happens. We make mistakes. We all mess up. We all get it wrong sometimes. When you do something wrong, admit it and take responsibility. But it is not healthy for you to assume that you’re doing anything wrong. 

There is no reason for you to believe that getting sick or having a medical condition is somehow your fault.

If your school calls to tell you that your child is sick, it’s not your fault; they were not ill when you dropped them off.

There is no reason for you to internalize layoffs, rejected proposals, or shifts in company direction. 

There is no need for you to feel responsible when someone else is upset, angry, or disappointed, even if you don’t cause their feelings.

Don’t blame yourself for situations like someone spilling a drink near you or a power outage ruining your plans.

Don’t assume that every argument, breakup, or friendship drift is because you did something wrong.

Why should you feel guilty when a child struggles in school, or a family member is having a hard time, if it’s outside your control?

Sometimes we miss opportunities, but blaming yourself for not being in the right place at the right time, as if you could have predicted or controlled everything, does not help.

Recognizing these tendencies can help you separate what is truly your responsibility from what is simply life being messy.

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. “(1 John 3:19-20 (ESV)

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

November 30, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 45

What Do You Want for Christmas?

What do you want for Christmas? That’s the question of the day for children and adults alike, and it’s a dangerous question for me. 

My list of wants ranges from someone to pay off the mortgage on our house and our two car loans, to being able to snap my fingers and have another book published, to sitting on my favorite beach enjoying a cup of the best coffee in the world. And a few other things mixed in when I think of them. 

That is one list. The other list is more spiritual; hopefully, it does not come across as holier than thou, that is certainly not my intent. My second list is the same as the one the Greeks had in Jesus’ day. 

There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?”^[1]

I want to see Jesus in me. For that to happen, I must spend time in the gospels so that I know Him, then I must take what I know and put it into practice. I want to see the gentleness of Jesus in me. I want to see the compassion of Jesus in me. I want to see the love of Jesus in me. 

I want to see Jesus in nature. I want to see Jesus on a cool sunny day. I want to see Jesus on a cold, rainy day. I want to see Jesus on a hot, muggy day. I want to see Jesus in the mountains, by the ocean, and in flowers blooming in our backyard.

I want to see Jesus in people. Regardless of their skin color, background, nationality, political views, or the words that come out of their mouths, I want to see Jesus in all people.

I want to see Jesus in the church. I want to see the church love the world as He did. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” I want to see the church love one another as He instructed us: “Love one another as I have loved you.” 

What do I want for Christmas? I want to see Jesus so others can see Him and come to know Him. 

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

^[1] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Jn 12:20–21.

A Norvell Note

November 23, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 44

Reflections in a Quiet Booth: Lessons from Life and On Golden Pond

After a memorial service for one of my patients, a visit with a lady in her 90s, and another visit with a woman who has a very confused view of what is going on in her world, I needed a quiet place to eat and document notes. I remembered that Freddy’s is usually calm on an early Friday afternoon (and has a good burger). I set up my mobile office in a booth in the back corner. It was indeed almost empty. 

After collecting my burger, I inserted my AirPods and touched play on my phone. The first song was from the On Golden Pond soundtrack. I paused, looked across the deserted dining area, and drifted away in the world of what may be.

I remember Norman getting lost while picking strawberries and melting into Ethel’s loving arms, saying, “I was scared.” I smiled as an angry daughter and dad struggled to reconnect. And I almost lost it completely when Ethel thought Norman was having a heart attack. And I took deep, long breaths as the couple recognized that the loons had come to say goodbye. 

As my burger and fries got colder, and my strawberry milkshake got warmer, I sat silently in a near-empty burger restaurant, thinking that one day it may be me. I didn’t cry, but I wanted to. 

So, I pondered. I’m big on pondering. How will I handle it as the years continue to do what advancing years do? Will I turn into a grouchy old man? Will I not recognize my wife, my son, my daughter, my grandchildren? Will be afraid, distant, angry, or mean? I hope not.

I love you,

Tom

Instead, I hope the teachings I have received from birth, and before, that His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will flow out of me like rivers of living water. I hope my gentleness will be evident to all because I know, even if I do not consciously know, that God is near. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

November 16, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 43

Remembering

We spent the weekend with my two brothers and their wives, a nephew, his wife, and their children, which we are blessed to be able to do a couple of times a year (at least we try). This year, we received an extra blessing when some other cousins were able to join us for a few hours. One of the cousins I had not seen in fifty-two years, and the rest I had never met. 

While we were together, we spent a lot of time remembering (and trying to remember) dates, events, and names. We shared memories and stories. We shared stories of those who are no longer with us. At times, we laughed; at times, we cried (or almost cried); and at times, we laughed until we cried. 

That is what we do when we get together. We remember. We hope there will be more times in the future, but we also realize that there may not be another time. We remember and remind each other of our heritage and the legacy that is ours, the people who have helped shape who we are, and we hope to do the same for those who come after us. 

That is what families do, at least that is what our family does, and that is what our spiritual gatherings are supposed to do. We sing together, we pray together, and we eat the bread and drink the wine, so we will remember what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for us. 

Wherever you are as you read these words, I hope you feel blessed by your physical family, your spiritual family, and thank the Lord for both. And remember you are loved.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

November 9, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 42

Improve the Silence

“Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.”

Those words, in a 5×7 frame, have sat on a bookshelf in my study for more years than I can remember. Some people have looked at them, read them aloud, laughed, and ignored them. Others have sheepishly started to whisper. There have been others that I have wanted to point out the words and ask them to honor them. 

Mostly, they have served as a reminder to me. 

They remind me, as I have written about on more than one occasion, that not everyone needs to hear my opinion. 

They remind me that I learn more by listening than speaking.

They remind me that yelling at others and trying to dominate them accomplishes nothing. 

They remind me not to interrupt when someone else is talking (whether they are improving the silence or not).

They remind me that “there is a time to speak and a time to remain silent.”

They remind me that at times my speaking will improve the silence.

They remind me that in this room with soft music playing and the screensaver showing autumn leaves falling beside a lake, I should just be quiet, reflect, and enjoy the moment. 

They remind me that even when I am journaling, I sometimes need to put my pen down and just be still and silent. 

They remind me to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.”

They remind me that in the silence, God may be speaking to me, and I should not interrupt; I cannot improve on that.

They remind me that I have said enough for now. 

You are loved

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved