A Norvell Note

We’re Still Doing Life Together

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 22 May 30, 2023

We’re Still Doing Life Together

We did life together. We are still doing life together.

Through the years, we shared meals, celebrated, grieved, laughed, and cried together. We passed through the seasons of life together.

We shared graduations, weddings, births, and deaths. We shed tears of joy and tears of sorrow. We laugh together. We stay in touch from a long distance. We listen intently for details as we learn of an illness or an upcoming medical procedure. We sigh as we embrace one another, not knowing when or if we will see one another again.

We hear a song that reminds us of when we were together. We see a cartoon or hear a joke that recalls the times we laughed together. We enjoy a meal that reminds us of when we sat across the table from friends. We smile as we read a text saying, “We love you.”

We greet each other with hugs, handshakes, and fist pumps. We smile and nod as we glance across the room and speak without words. We sit silently and grieve with one another when we have no words to express our sorrow. Then, we stand and applaud as we share the accomplishments of our children and grandchildren.

We cannot always be together and don’t stay in touch as much as we promised, but we try. We don’t always remember birthdays, anniversaries, or family celebrations, but we try. We can’t always answer the phone when they call, make it to significant events when they happen, or show up like we wish we could, but we try.

I am grateful that we are still doing life together through life’s highs and lows, victories and defeats.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

Show Up

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 21 May 22, 2023

Show Up

On a recent No Small Endeavor podcast, Lee Camp interviews Father Greg Boyle. These are Lee’s notes on the interview: “In the 80s and 90s, the city of Los Angeles was ravaged by what is now known as the “decade of death,” a period of unprecedented gang violence, peaking at 1,000 killings in 1992 alone. It was in the midst of this unrest, fear, and finger-pointing that Father Greg Boyle became pastor of the poorest Catholic parish in the city, in order to live and work among gang members.” Since that time, he has conducted 250 funerals.

The theme of the conversation is, “How do you reteach love to a community that society has deemed unlovable?” Boyle’s response, “It’s about showing up it’s not about changing people.”

What an insight!

“It’s about showing up it’s not about changing people.”

“It’s about showing up.” Be there. Listen to them. Hear them. Show them you care about them. Love them when they fail. Love them when they succeed. Love them when they don’t love themselves.

“It’s not about changing people.” Yes, we want them to improve and correct their mistakes. But we cannot change them, and we need to stop trying. Instead, see them for who they are, accept them for who they are, and let that be enough.

Jesus showed up. He loved. He taught. He showed them how to live. People changed because they saw something in him that convinced them to live differently.

Thank you, Greg Boyle, for living like Jesus in your community.

“It’s about showing up it’s not about changing people.” Let these words shape our lives this week.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

The World Didn’t Stop

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 20

May 15, 2023

The World Didn’t Stop

I admit that sometimes I take myself and what I do too seriously. I remind myself of this verse often. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3)

Here is an example. Through the years of writing A Norvell Note, I have taken getting an article written and posted on time every week. However, there have been times due to sickness, fatigue, or travel when that did not happen. Unfortunately, that’s what happened this week, so I’m two days late posting this week’s Note.

Guess what? The world did not stop spinning. The sun came up on both days. Most of the world did not notice, nor did it matter. But it matters to me. It is important to me.

Yes, there are times that I think of myself and what I do as more highly than I ought. So I’m working on that. But when I say I’ll do something, I want to do it right, or at least to the best of my ability.

There’s another verse that I often repeat to myself. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23)

I didn’t expect the world to stop turning or even one person to notice I was late posting an article. I don’t think of myself or what I do that highly.

However, I am grateful I have something I enjoy and consider important enough to “work at it with all my heart, as working for the Lord.” I hope you do, too, because it changes how you live when you realize you are working for the Lord.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

On the Edge of the Inside

Vol. 27 No. 19

May 8, 2023

On the Edge of the Inside

Do you ever wonder about your place in the world? Where do you belong? What is your mission? Is there something more than your job or career? I’ve spent much of my life asking those questions. I spent most of my adult years serving in church leadership in one form or another, but that is no longer my role. So instead, I’m learning to be a good church member.

In my workplace, I am part of the team. I’m far from the head of the company and try to do my best to play my role among the many other team players. Some passages in the New Testament highlight the various parts of the Body of Christ, remind us that we can’t all be the “head,” and emphasize how vital all body parts are. The eyes have their place, the feet do their thing, and the hands have their special place. (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12) I’m learning to be a good team player.

I’ve come to appreciate this sentence from Romans 12: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

I also love these words by St. Frances as shared by Richard Rohr in Alternative Orthodoxy, At Home in the World, Friday, June 2, 2017. “Francis wanted us to live a life on the edge of the inside—not at the center or the top, but not outside throwing rocks either. This unique position offers structural freedom and hopefully spiritual freedom, too.”

“Live a life on the edge of the inside—not at the center or the top, but not outside throwing rocks either.”

I’m doing my best to live and enjoy my life on the edge of the inside. It’s an excellent place to live.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

Vol. 27 No. 18

May 1, 2023

Family

After attending a reunion of my mother’s side of the family, I am grateful to be a descendant of Floyd and Agnes Mangum. I understand that all families do not enjoy the level of love and joy that ours has and does, but I cannot pass this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for how God has given me “more than we could “ever ask or imagine.”

We all have had our share of heartbreak, sadness, and disappointment, but the heritage of faith our grandparents lived and passed down to their children continues to live in their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and hopefully future generations. This foundation has sustained us through deaths, grief, marital successes and failures, spiritual struggles, and the highs and lows of living in this troubled world.

What is this solid foundation? As one cousin reminded us this past weekend, it is Jesus Christ. I don’t think there are any two of Floyd and Agnes’ successors who practice our faith in Jesus Christ the same way. Some are similar, and some are vastly different. But one common thing to all is the desire to live as much like Jesus as possible.

And when we come together as we did this past weekend, we embrace, enjoy, and celebrate that it is only by the great mercies of God that we are allowed to experience such a wonderful heritage of love. I love our family, and I pray that I can live my life so that my children, their children, and their children will see the same Jesus and do their best to live as much like Him as possible.

I also pray that if you have not experienced family life like l have, someday, God will open a door for you to find it. Maybe God is waiting for you to begin the heritage of faith and love that will last for generations.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

Three More Words on Grief

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 17

April 24, 2023

Three More Words on Grief

Grief takes time.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

A Little More on Grief

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 15

April 10, 2023

A Little More on Grief

We will all experience grief at some point. We cannot escape life without it. However, there are unhealthy and healthy ways to deal with grief.

Unhealthy Ways of Processing Grief

Deny it.

Do nothing.

Self-medicate.

Isolate yourself.

Fear it.

Healthy Ways of Processing Grief

Acknowledge it.

Embrace it.

Face it.

Talk about it.

Seek professional help.

Journaling.

Exercise.

When you experience a loss, and you will, whether you acknowledge it or not, grief needs to be processed. I encourage you to choose healthy ways to process your grief. Even if you choose healthy ways to process your grief, it is hard, so please choose the more beneficial methods. Then, you can get through it.

Tom

Grief

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 15

April 10, 2023

Grief

Sometimes you see it coming; sometimes, it comes out of nowhere. Sometimes you know what’s happening; sometimes, you have no idea what’s happening. What is it? Grief.

Grief comes in many forms and for many reasons. We commonly associate grief with the death of a loved one, but there are many other causes.

Grief may surface after losing a job, a pet, loss of health, or a dream. Likewise, grief may appear after a failed relationship, an auto accident, or one of many other losses.

Grief may show up as sadness, moodiness, anger, depression, crying, or feeling blue. A person may feel grief when you hear a particular song, eat at a favorite restaurant, or smell a familiar fragrance.

Why am I writing about grief? Because grief is real and painful and must be allowed to do its work, or you may experience serious health problems. If you are experiencing grief, saying, “I’m fine,” is not the solution. Help is available. You don’t have to go through the agony of your loss alone.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

The Anger and the Pain

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 14

April 3, 2023

The Anger and the Pain

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, …Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:26, 31, 32 (NIV)

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 (NIV)

I wish reading these words would be enough to stop the anger and violence in our world.

I wish the words “be kind and compassionate to one another” would be powerful enough to change the hearts and minds of the people who are so angry before they go into elementary schools and start shooting.

I wish we could learn to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

I wish I could erase the images of parents rushing to Covenant School in Nashville clutching their children. I want to remove the feelings of helplessness. I wish I could stop being sad. And I wish there was something I could do to make things better. I want my wishes to change something.

I know that I cannot change people, I cannot change hearts, and I cannot make the rage and anger disappear. I also cannot take away the pain and suffering of the victims of rage and anger. I cannot make the anger go away.

So, I pray.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

Where there is injury, pardon; 

Where there is doubt, faith; 

Where there is despair, hope; 

Where there is darkness, light; 

Where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen (The Prayer of St. Francis)

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

Last Week

Vol. 27 No. 13 – March 27, 2023

Last Week

Junie’s scan results: ALL CLEAR!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Also, last week a very dear lady from our workplace lost her battle with cancer but won her freedom over pain and discomfort and moved on to her reward of peace and eternal rest.

We celebrate.

We grieve.

We hold on.

We let go.

We love.

We move forward.

Tom

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.

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