A Norvell Note

Vol. 22 No. 22 | June 8, 2020

I was listening to Sara Bereilles’s song, A Safe Place to Land, struck by how much the lyrics reflect the times in which we are living.

When pain is all that they offer 
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast 
Like a kiss from the lips of monster 
And home is the belly of the beast 

When holding your breath is safer than breathing 
When letting go is braver than keeping 
When innocent words turn to lies 
And you can't hide by closing your eyes 

The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don't need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord's prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
 
Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames being told to stand still
The window's wide open
This leap is on faith
You don't know who will catch you
Maybe somebody will
 
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don't need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord's prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
 
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you're strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up..

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, 
as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours it the kingdom and the power And glory forever. 
Amen.

Vol. 22 No. 22 | June 1, 2020 

Take Heart! 

As parents, we want to protect our children and prepare them for what’s ahead if we can: 

Ok, sweetie, we’re going to the doctor. They’re going to poke you with a needle and it’ll hurt for a little while, but I’ll be right beside you. 

We’re going to a busy part of town, so stay close to me, wait for the man to turn green on the sign, and always look both ways before you cross the street.

Jesus wanted to protect his followers, as well. He was about to go to the cross, He tried to prepare them for what was shaping up to be an unprecedented time of disappointment, sadness, chaos, and confusion.  

  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)

Jesus’s words are as true now as they were then. And He wants to comfort His followers today the same as he did those who followed him then. He knows there will be times when life will be filled with confusion and uncertainty, disappointment and sadness, hatred and prejudice, and sickness and death.   

And He wants to make sure we know that when we experience trouble or hardship, whether because of our faith or simply because we live in a fallen world, we must not give in to fear or lose hope. 

Jesus is still communicating with us today, but we have to remember to listen. Because without a clear focus on His words, our spirits will start to dwindle, and we’ll lose sight of the good and beautiful things that still remain amidst all the tragedy and chaos in the world. 

And we must take heart because He has provided us a way to have peace even in the midst of it.

 A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 21 | May 25, 2020

Writing during COVID has been difficult. 

While I am adjusting to and enjoying the calm and slower pace, my previous varied routine stimulated more thoughts and helped stir my imagination. Now, my mind drifts away more (and my mind is prone to wandering). 

Knowing how to choose new and refreshing words that encourage and offer hope is harder now, too. So much has been and is being said (some worthwhile, some worthless), and phrases like “We are in this together” and “We’ll get through this together” seem a bit trite at this point. 

Even writing about my writing woes seems minor compared to what so many others are coping with: those who are honoring and mourning their loved ones who died serving our country; business and church leaders wrestling to determine the safest means of reopening; families that have lost a loved one during this time and must wait weeks or months for a memorial service; doctors and nurses who continue to care for patients with limited resources and less than ideal conditions…

And yet, I write, remembering the true meaning of the phrase “labor of love.” And I do my best to remember that our struggles and suffering are temporary. And yes, we will get through this together, but only if we must keep our hearts open and eyes focused on the gifts that remain and the blessings that are to come.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV)

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 20 | May 18, 2020

I watched the compost truck’s huge pinchers come down, clutch the dumpster on either side, raise it above the truck, shake it a few times, and set it back down on the side of the street. Within minutes, the truck had come and gone and the trash dumpster was empty. It had taken me much longer and a lot more struggle just to roll the dumpster  from behind our fence to the curb.

As I witnessed the powerful display of mechanical strength, I thought about how foolish it would’ve been for me to run outside and tell the truck driver how heavy the load was and insist on helping him, just as would be for me to insist on doing the Lord’s work for him. 

There have been times when I’ve watched our children struggle to find their way. Even though I had prayed for them to know the Lord and let Him guide their steps, I still thought there were times when God was acting too slow and maybe needed my assistance to move things along. But every time, He would put the right people in each of my children’s paths at just the right time to accomplish far more than I could have imagined.

The truth is, I’ve thought I’ve known how to fix a situation, relationship, or person better than God more times than I’d like to recall. And every time, I’ve looked back and seen how perfectly His plan has unfolded, leaving me feeling like Job after his requested Q&A with God.

Job answered:

“I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me.

    I should never have opened my mouth!

I’ve talked too much, way too much.

    I’m ready to shut up and listen.”  (Job 40:4-5, The Message)

There is so much going on in the world right now that I wish I could explain and resolve, but I can’t. I can work to improve my circumstances and help others with the gifts and abilities I have, but I cannot do God’s work. And I don’t need to. 

He has it taken care of, and His plan will unfold infinitely better than I could have ever imagined. So, I’m ready to shut up and listen.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 19 | May 11, 2020

What is something that you have enjoyed about the quarantine that has surprised you?

I haven’t been surprised that the stay at home restrictions have allowed me to spend more time with my wife, accomplish more tasks around the house, reconnect with old friends, rearrange my study two or three times, and spend less time in my car. 

But I have been surprised to find myself walking down the middle of the street. 

Concrete sidewalks are hard on my ankles and knees, so I’ve always preferred walking and jogging on the asphalt. But dodging traffic can be tricky, not to mention dangerous. 

But not now. Even at peak traffic hours, our neighborhood is so quiet, I find myself strolling right down the middle of the street, lost in the music flowing through my EarPods. It’s perfect, really- so much space, no curbs to negotiate, and I’m always at least six feet away from everybody else.

On a recent stroll, I started thinking about other welcomed surprises that have come out of a tough season or hard chapter.

When I was eleven, I could think of nothing worse than my mother dying. But through the years, God has blessed me with numerous substitute mothers to fill in some of the empty space.

When I got the chickenpox as an adult in a small Ukrainian village and felt like I was going to die, I thought life couldn’t get much worse.  But I made it through in one piece and it gave me a great story to share over the years.  

When I had to have major oral surgery in my late forties, I thought it was the worst thing that could happen. Instead, my surgeon became a good friend and I had the privilege of officiating his wedding that same year.

When our church teams would grow frustrated with the business side of ministry, wondering what the point of it all was, God would always send us new people and ways to serve that refreshed our souls and restored our faith.

As I thought about all the good that has come out of unfortunate situations in my life, I was reminded of this verse: 

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

In the morning I lay my requests before you

And wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3, NIV)

As we now learn to live with whatever awaits us, may we also wait expectantly for God’s surprises. You might even find yourself being one of those surprises in the life of another. 

And by the way, I only condone walking in the middle of the street when they are deserted. And please, if by chance a vehicle does approach, please move to the side of the street.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Vol. 22 No. 18 | May 4, 2020

Max Lucado shares the epic tale of Joseph’s life story, including his long journey of betrayal, rejection by his family, and years of waiting and isolation, reminding us,  “While we are waiting (resting in God’s care), God is working.”

A timely statement, isn’t it? While we are waiting, God is working.

We are waiting, wondering how long we will be waiting. We are waiting for things to get to whatever the next normal is going to be; to see our family and friends in person; to see if opening up the country is the right thing to do. We are waiting to find out what eating out, shopping, or going to the grocery store will be like. We are waiting to see how many more people are going to die.

We are waiting, and while we are waiting, God is working. We may not know exactly what He is doing or what the outcome of all this will be, but we know He is working. 

We can take comfort in the fact that God is working for our good. He always does. God is good, all the time, and He is working for our good. 

The suffering may continue for a while, the questions may go unanswered for a while, and the waiting will probably continue for a while, but be comforted knowing that God is working for our good all the time, and we will be taken care of. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

                                                                              (Romans 8:28-29, NIV)

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Vol. 22 No. 17 | April 27, 2020

So Weak and Helpless

When I sat down to write this week, I realized that I have run out of new words. So, I’m pulling out a piece I wrote many years ago, cut a few paragraphs and added a couple of new ones.

[Written: September 8, 2003, Published in Until Hope Returns, June 2018]
         “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” That is the honest cry of the struggling servant. That is the honest cry of one who tries to serve the Creator of the universe but wonders if he has the strength to continue. That is the heart cry of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. That is the heart cry of the husbands and wives. That is the pleading of the disciple who wants more than anything to faithfully follow God, but who is growing weary, confused, and wondering if he has what it takes to overcome to the end. 
         “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” says the father as he watches his son makes one more decision that will lead him farther from home. He has prayed constantly since before the boy was born that he would be a good father. That he would have wisdom. That he would be able to guide this son as God would have him to. Now, he’s wondering what he did wrong. 
         “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” says the man who is struggling to keep his business going. He has integrity. He believes in doing what is right, but the “good guy” seems to be coming in last. He is not sure how much longer he can hold on.
         “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” says the single mom who must be mom, dad, friend, disciplinarian, and spiritual leader for the children she has been left to care for. She’s committed to bringing them to church regularly, but even that has become a battleground. 
         “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!”

[Written: April 2020]

“Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” says the ones who have lost their jobs and wonder how they are going to pay their rent. Those are the words of the schoolteacher who is preparing online classes for her students as well as helping her own children do their schoolwork and missing out on joys of being at home with her children. That is the confession of those of us who have been staying home to be healthy and to protect others, working from home but constantly feeling the need to do more.

 “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” says the medical workers who are and committed to being there with their patients, so they don’t die alone. Says the patient who is confused and dying, afraid and unsure why this is happening, and unable to communicate with his family. And that is the cry of the family members who cannot be with him, hold his hand, and tell him his is loved as he takes his last breath.

“Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!”
         God hears the cries. 
         He responds. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
         To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV).
         “Lord, I feel so weak and helpless!” His grace is sufficient.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 16 | April 20, 2020

Reminders from God

I have always tried to see the messages and lessons God is trying to teach me whenever I go through difficult times. Here are some of the latest:

I am well aware of everything that is going on, so you don’t need to be concerned about not being in control. 

God knows I need to be reminded of this often, and He does. Now, it’s on a daily basis. He is reminding me that I’m in His hands and His hands are strong and gentle. He is reminding me that since I’m not in control, I can relax knowing that He is capable and trustworthy.

I am well aware of your needs, your fears, your sadness, and you can be sure that I will continue to bless you.

He is blessing me with rest. He is blessing me with opportunities to connect and reconnect with friends and family, even if from a distance. He is blessing me with calmness. He is blessing me with a good job. He is blessing me with tools to communicate, words to read and share, and time for reflection. He is blessing me in ways I never expected. 

I am well aware of how you grieve for all My children who are dying, and I want you to know they are not alone.

He is with those who are suffering. He might be dressed as a doctor or first responder, but He is there.He is reminding me that it’s perfectly fine to grieve for them. But I have to keep looking forward and helping those He is placing in my path who are still living. 

He is reminding me of my purpose.  

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Vol. 22 No. 15 | April 13, 2020

Give Me Something To Do

Millions of people, more than we could have fathomed a few weeks ago, are now unemployed due to COVID-19. And even those who are fortunate enough to be employed, are often at a loss for what to do. 

One afternoon, when I slipped (or fell headlong) into a particularly deep abyss of helplessness, my favorite line from Sense and Sensibility came to me. It’s during the scene when Marianne falls extremely ill. Her suitor, Colonel Brandon, paces the halls, desperate for something to do to try to help her, and pleads, “Give me an occupation, Miss Dashwood, or I shall run mad.” 

You may be feeling something similar. Give me an occupation so I can support my family. Give me something I can do to help the frontline workers. Give me something I can do to make life better for people who are struggling…

Earlier that same day I was reading the Jesus story from Luke 4.

When Jesus stood up to read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

    and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:17-19, NIV) 

I can’t touch a blind person’s eyes and make him see. I do not have the means to feed all the hungry people in my community. And I don’t have the power to go into a hospice patient’s room and heal them. 

But I do have the capacity to listen to my wife, friends, and co-workers when they need to share their fears and concerns. I can share the good things I see and hear with people who might need their spirits lifted. I can listen to what the Spirit is saying and maybe calling me to do. And I can proclaim there is freedom in Christ, and even in these difficult times, God is with us and His favor is on us. 

I hope you will be gentle on yourself and others this week. And remember, you can’t do everything, but you can do something, and you can do it with love, compassion, and kindness.  

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 14 | April 6, 2020

What We Can When We Can

Not long before Jesus is put on trial and crucified, He is invited to a friend’s for dinner. During the meal, a woman comes into the room, opens a bottle of expensive perfume, and begins to pour it on His head. As described in The Message:

Some of the guests became furious among themselves. ‘That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor.’ They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her.

Jesus defends her, saying, “She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial” (Mark 14:8, NIV). Or as stated in The Message, “She did what she could when she could…” 

There is much we could discuss about this passage, especially during this season. But I want to focus on the underlying message in these words: “She did what she could when she could.” 

The man who puts on a mask and gloves and goes to the grocery store to get what his family needs for the week; and the man who checks in on his elderly neighbor to make sure she has what she needs…is doing what he can when he can. 

The woman who kisses her family goodbye and heads to the hospital to help care for the  sick; and the woman who sits down at her sewing machine to make masks for her friends and neighbors…is doing what she can when she can.

The men and women who load up their vans with packages and make their daily rounds; and the people who share their gifts, positive words, and guidance with others who might need them…are doing what they can when they can. 

All of us who are staying at home, and when we must go out, taking precautions to keep ourselves and those around us safe; all of us who are treating others with kindness, patience, and respect and doing our best to spread positivity…are doing the best we can when we can. 

The anxiety and frustration created by our inability to do and help more is likely to continue over the next few weeks. But we can only do what we can when we can. 

Let’s focus on that, and that will be enough.

“And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.” (9)

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved