A Norvell Note

A Norvell Note 2020 

Vol. 22 No. 02

January 13, 2020

Seeing What You Cannot See

Have you ever tried to see something you cannot see?

You are driving on a dark road. Your headlights are on and you see clearly as far as they reach. But beyond the light, all you can see is darkness. Until you turn on your brights, and then you can see what you could not see. 

You wake up in the middle of the night. The room is dark. There’s a nightlight, but it only helps for a certain distance. You squint, but you still cannot see what’s beyond the light. And then you flip a switch to another light that allows you to see what you could not see. 

You are walking down a dark path. A friend is holding a flashlight and can see fine. But you can only see vague images and shadows. Then he shines his light on your path, and you’re able to see what you could not see. 

For centuries, people were trying to see what they could not see. They had heard about and studied God. They wanted to see Him. They searched for Him in the Scriptures, religious meetings, rituals, and traditions. But they still could not see Him. 

And then the light came on. 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

He came into the world, not as they expected, but He came. (John 8:12, NIV)

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  (John 9:5, NIV)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5, NIV)

The light of Jesus continues to shine so we can see what we could not see. Let it shine brightly, and you will overcome the darkness. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Vol. 21 No. 52 | December 30, 2019

Gentleness

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  (Philippians 4:5, NIV)

Gentleness. The word keeps nudging its way into my thoughts, stirring up a longing for more. 

Maybe it is the lack of gentleness conveyed in the news and on social media that makes me long for more, or the politicians and leaders who have forgotten that gentle responses are even an option or the people who tout religious values but contradict the spirit of gentleness that the Lord prefers. 

“Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.”  (James 3:17, The Message)

Or perhaps it’s the examples of gentleness I do see and hear that makes me want  to experience and exhibit more:

The dad who takes time to listen to the story his daughter’s trying to tell him; the son who helps his dad walk from the car to the restaurant; the mom who comforts her little one in her arms after she’s fallen; the daughter who responds gently to her mother’s harsh criticism, knowing her grandmother never did the same.  

Whatever the reason, I have a growing desire to see and hear more gentleness, speak and respond more gently, and live with more gentleness in the coming year. 

May you be blessed with and share more gentleness as a reminder that the Lord is near. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

Vol. 21 No. 51 | December 23, 2019

I haven’t been following the Democratic debates, but for some reason, I watched the last one (possibly because I couldn’t find a good basketball game). For the better part of three hours, the seven candidates went back and forth in the typical “attack, destroy, and self-promote” fashion. 

As Jason Russell put it in a Washington Examiner:  

The last question of Thursday night’s Democratic debate had nothing to do with public policy. Instead, it was a great test of authenticity. In short, it’s the holiday season, and if you could give any other candidate a certain gift or ask any of them forgiveness, what would you do? Sadly, all of the candidates failed the test. 

I agree with Russell’s evaluation. For a brief moment, I hoped I’d hear an honest answer, but that didn’t happen. Not only did they fail the test, but they also had no idea how to respond. 

Sadly, a sincere, honest answer to a question that might make them vulnerable is too much to expect in our current political eat-or-get-eaten environment. 

But even though none of the presidential hopefuls answered the question, it still resonated with me. If I could give any other person a certain gift this holiday season, or ask one person for forgiveness, what would I do? 

And this is what I came up with: 

I would give you my promise that in the days I have left, I will do my best to be the person whom God has called me to be, and whom I claim to be. 

And I would ask all of you to forgive me for the times (way too many to count) when I failed to live up to my calling and be who I claim to be. And I would ask for forgiveness if and when I fail again. 

May you be blessed with love, joy, and peace this Christmas season.

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The deadline for signing up for your healthcare has passed, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and many of the other amazing super-duper sales have either ended or extended for the gigantic sale before the Christmas really crazy rush. 

BUT, it’s not too late to become a patron through Patreon to help me keep writing A Norvell Note. Just a few dollars makes a big difference. $1, $5, $10, or $25 a month will be a great help. 

You can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/anorvellnote

Thank you very much,

Tom

Vol. 21 No. 50 | December 16, 2019

I am not sure why, but this sentiment and the images that often accompany it make me CBNOL (Chuckle But Not Out Loud). Although I do find some humor in it, I also know that the struggle is real for many, especially during the holidays.

The struggle is real for the parents who received a call informing them that their son has been arrested for driving under the influence; or the father of three who just lost his job; or the woman with her children on the corner and a sign that says, “Homeless. Anything helps.”

The struggle is real for the family spending their first holiday without their dad or mom or child, or the man sitting alone in a restaurant while Joy to the World plays on the radio. 

We all probably know someone who is struggling, and we all have the ability to help, even if it’s simply calling up a friend who just got divorced, taking a neighbor out to eat, or sending a “thinking of you” card to a friend or relative you haven’t heard from in a while. 

And, please, if you are struggling, answer the call or respond to the text from your friend, accept the invitation to dinner, or invite your neighbor in when they ring your doorbell. 

For all of us enjoying a  “holly jolly” Christmas, be grateful and enjoy. Just remember, someone near you may be going through the bluest Christmas ever. So keep your eyes, ears, and heart open to God’s nudging. He may need you to be their reminder that He is near and they are not alone. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

Vol. 21 No. 49 | December 9, 2019

I pulled my car in the garage and started unloading my stuff. I put my computer bag over my shoulder and reached for my water bottle and hot latte I’d just purchased. Then, I saw an empty plastic bottle and some papers that needed to be recycled, so I sat my hot latte on the top of the car like I have done several times. Except for this time, I’d forgotten that I’d opened the sunroof. 

Yep, you guessed it… 

Not the whole cup- somehow the lid stayed on and only a little splattered across the seats, the steering wheel, the dash, and the console. 

I cleaned up the mess as best as I could, muttering something to the effect of I wish that hadn’t happened (in words I will refrain from sharing here). 

Why am I telling you this? 

Because it made think about how much we depend on things and people to be where we expect them to be and do what we expect them to do. 

For example, when I’m in my car and a hot latte is not raining down on me, I depend on the features to do what they are designed to do- when I put my foot on the brake pedal, the car will slow down; when I turn my blinker on, other drivers will know that I’m going to turn (In case some of you were wondering, that’s what it’s for… Yeah, I’ve driven behind you). And yes, when I open the sunroof, I expect it to stay open until I close it. 

In my relationships, when I have become accustomed to people being there, I expect them to be there and behave as they always do- when I really need to talk, I trust they will listen; when I need their advice, I trust they will give it, etc.

I think it’s natural to get frustrated or disappointed sometimes when things don’t work or people act differently than we expect them to. We rely on the predictability of things to maintain some sort of sanity, and it throws us off when things change without our knowledge or permission.

But what if this is how I approach my relationship with God? 

The truth is, we can’t predict how God will respond. And He may not always answer us when we’d prefer. That can be frustrating and confusing. 

But I know, without fail, He will always hear my prayers, and He will always answer. I know He is there, and I know He will never leave me. When He came to earth, He promised to be “with us” (Matthew 1:23) and “never leave us.” (Hebrews 13:5) 

Maybe I can extend similar mercy to my family and friends and give them the benefit of the doubt. They will not always respond the way I want, but I know they want what is best for me. Maybe I can lower my demands and try to accept the fact that they are imperfect just like me, and they will sometimes miss the opportunity to help and come up short of my expectations. 

Because I know they love me. I know they will do anything within their power to do what is best for me. And when they don’t, I can move beyond my frustration and disappointment and be thankful that they love me and tried. 

And who knows, maybe I can give myself some grace over a spilled latte.

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

 A Norvell Note 

Vol. 21 No. 48 | December 2, 2019

As I pulled our Christmas decorations from the attic this week, I thought about how predictable this activity has become the day after Thanksgiving. At the same time, I thought of how unpredictable some events have been over the past few days. 

Sometimes the unexpected comes as a welcome, pleasant surprise. And sometimes, unexpected events are neither pleasant nor welcomed. 

My thoughts brought me to this somewhat predictable observation: the unexpected happens at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. 

This observation led to another: how we handle unexpected events shapes who we are. 

Your company’s decision to eliminate your position was totally unexpected and couldn’t have come at a worse time.  

The last thing you expected was the routine doctor’s visit to be followed by a life-threatening prognosis. 

The family never expected their estranged son to finally come home for Thanksgiving. 

The anonymous check in the mail came as a complete and utter surprise. 

The baby they were told would never be born showed that miracles are possible.

Some of us will handle unexpected events in stride with grace and confidence. Some of us will crumble under the sudden shift in our plans. Regardless, no matter how hard we try to predict the unexpected, it will always come. And how we choose to handle it is very important. 

Here are a few suggestions that have helped me manage my response to unexpected things that happen.

Give yourself time to take it all in. Don’t panic. Ask the Lord to help you understand what is happening, what He wants you to see, and what He wants you to learn from the experience.

Wait before you jump to conclusions about the outcome. What appears to be horrible news may actually be a blessing. And, at times, what we think is the answer to our prayers could prove to be a huge disappointment or heartbreak. Just know that God has a bigger plan and ask Him to give you wisdom and clarity. 

Stay in the moment. Don’t rush ahead into the unknown. Don’t revert to the safety of the past. Just have faith and remember that God is always with you. 

I did not expect some of the things that happened to and around me this past week. And I’m sure there will be things that happen next week that will require me to shift my thinking and actions. 

But one thing I do know. God will be with me no matter what happens. And that I can predict with absolute certainty. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

Vol. 21 No. 47 | November 25, 2019 

Here is my list of things for which I’m thankful.

I’m thankful for my family, memories we have made together, and the memories that are yet to be made.

I’m thankful for my friends…especially the old friends…and especially for the new friends.

I’m thankful that a beautiful sunset still takes my breath away.

I’m thankful (when I get up early enough) to see the sunrise.

I’m thankful that I still get excited over the possibility of a snowfall.

I’m thankful that I see a tree of many bright colors I still pause to capture the image in my mind and sometimes with my camera.

I’m thankful that when I hear a child laugh or cry it still touches me deep in my soul.

I’m thankful that I can share thoughts and feelings with people all over the world within a matter of seconds.

I’m thankful that I deliberate over my thoughts and feelings for more than a few seconds before I share them with people all over the world.

I’m thankful that when I share my thoughts and feelings with people all over the world some people read them, some people appreciate them, and some people act on them.

I’m thankful that I’ve lived long enough to learn that not everyone wants or needs to know my thoughts, feelings and opinions.

I’m thankful when I see a character in a movie who reminds me of a person who has had a major impact on my life I am still moved to tears because I miss them so much.

I’m thankful for the material possessions I am blessed to own, and for the increasing desire to own less.

I’m thankful for music and the power it has to energize me, to calm me, and to soften my heart.

I’m thankful for bright blue skies and warm (not too warm) sunny days, and I’m thankful for cold rainy days.

I’m thankful for the creative people and their ability to tell a good story and tell it really well.

I’m thankful that I’ve taken the time to remind myself of these things for which I’m thankful, that I have the opportunity and ability to share them with you, and you have taken the time to read them.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15, NIV)

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved