Tag: A Norvell Note

The thoughts and reflections of Tom Norvell.

Peace

A Norvell Note 

September 15, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 36

Peace

“Before you speak of peace, you must first have it in your heart.” 
—St. Francis of Assisi  

  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Jesus speaking in Matthew 5:9, Emphasis mine)

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18, Emphasis mine)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25, Emphasis mine)

I’m talking mainly to those who claim to be followers of Jesus. I think we have missed something when it comes to peace. God wants us to be people of peace. 

Perhaps we’ve missed it by accident. Maybe we have never noticed Jesus’ teachings on peace, though I don’t see how. Perhaps we have intentionally ignored Jesus’ and the New Testament writer’s instructions on peace. 

Maybe we’ve simply misunderstood the teachings on peace. Perhaps we have concluded that peace is only about inner peace that involves sitting quietly with our hands folded in our laps and a serene little smile on our faces. Or maybe we excused ourselves and relegated being at peace to someone else. “It’s just not my gift.” 

Yes, I think we have missed something. 

When Jesus spoke about peace, He called on us, His followers, to be people of peace. We are to be the examples. We are to lead the way, being people of peace. 

Yet, it seems we too often choose the opposite route. We fret, and we worry; we moan and cry in fear. We gripe and complain and accuse and threaten. We judge, criticize, and exclude. Where is the peace in that? How are we any different?

I think we can be better. Indeed, we can be better. I pray we can be better. Let’s be better. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Live in the Moment

Vol. 22 No. 01

January 6, 2020

Live In the Moment

I have never been a big advocate for making new year’s resolutions. But I do typically spend a little time reflecting on the past and contemplating the future. I won’t bore you with the specifics, but I will share a few observations.

There is absolutely nothing I can do about anything that happened in the past. 

That won’t stop me from thinking about them, but I cannot undo anything that has been done. I have a tendency to remember the mistakes I’ve made more than the things I’ve done right. So there will be more moans and groans over dumb things I’ve done and stupid things I’ve said. 

And I’ll probably think about those special times and wish they could have lasted longer. I can wish all I want, but those good times ended just like the unpleasant ones. 

So, since I can’t do anything to change the past, I hope to spend less time and energy living there. 

I cannot predict what is going to happen in the future. 

I can make plans and do my best to be prepared for what comes. But there will still be things I have no control over. The best I can do is develop a spiritual mindset that will enable me to deal with whatever comes in the most Godly manner. 

The best resolution I can make is to resolve to live in the moment.

I can’t change the past. I can’t live in the future. But I can live today fully and try my best to do what the Lord wants me to do. 

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV)

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

A Norvell Note 2020

Well, we’ve come to the end of another year and looking forward to 2020, and I want to thank you for supporting me through another year of creating and sharing A Norvell Note. 

As a teenager growing up in Hope, Arkansas I remember having difficulty imagining being alive in the year 2020, but here we are. 

This past year has been a challenge. There have been many good and positive events and we have met some wonderful people as a result of our move to Texas eighteen months ago, but the adjustment has not always been easy. Unexpected changes in my employment as a chaplain with hospice has given me less time to develop new writing and communication projects than I had anticipated. However, the new year offers hope for new opportunities. I

In 2020 I hope to develop some form of a podcast using A Norvell Notes as the foundation. I’m still learning the process of podcasting, but I hope within the first three months of 2020 to have something up and going. Most likely it will involve the reading of the most recent Note, comments on that and a discussion of some topics related to that article and current events. 

I’m am working on publishing another collection of writings similar to Until Hope Returns that came out last year. Until Hope Returns is a means of introduction as well as a great way of saying thank you. 

Thank you again for your support through prayer and donations. I hope you will continue in 2020 and possibly increase your donations by $1, $5, $10 a month or more if you can. And please share this with your friends that you think might be interested in helping support the writing and communication projects. 

If you have been a patron in the past and have decided to discontinue, I completely understand and thank you very much for your help. 

If you have never participated in supporting my writing projects, I hope you will consider it. 

May you be blessed with love, joy, and peace during the Christmas season and throughout the new year.

https://www.patreon.com/anorvellnote

Tom