Am I Doing Enough?

Know it's been a minute since I've updated my site and to be honest I don't really have a good excuse to why. Guess I've just been lazy. But with Thanksgiving going by this past Thursday I feel like this is an appropriate time to get these thoughts out of my head and onto this blog.

I don't know how many of you out there know this, but I'm the oldest of 5 Norwood children. My younger brother, Jordan, is one of the biggest inspirations in my life.The kid has more drive and determination than anyone I've ever known and his relationship with the Lord is something I look up to. And even though I don't do it as much as I should, I know I can come to him with any problems or issues that are bothering me. To make a long story short, Jordan and I are close.

After Jordan, there is a little gap until the three youngest Norwood kids. Closeness is age has allowed Levi, Brianna, and Zaccariah to build a bond very similar to what Jordan and I had growing up. Being able to live under the same roof, share vacations, and help each other transition while moving from state to state will bring anyone closer together.



Levi is probably the best athlete out of all of us at his age. Can't lie, that hurt to say, but it's the truth.


Brianna is the most beautiful young lady out there, and uses her ability to dance to help not only herself but also the youth in the community.


And anyone who has met Zac knows that he is one of a kind. Wise beyond his years and easily the best supporter of his big brothers and sister.

Now that you have a little background, I guess I can hit you with the dilemma that I find myself thinking about on a regular basis.

Living away from home for for basically 6 1/2 years (4 years in college, and 2 1/2 in Manila) have I, or better yet, am I doing enough as a big brother? I guess it's tough for me to try to answer myself because I've never had a big brother. But it kills me that I've missed so many of Levi's football and basketball games. It hurts knowing that I'm not able to bring Bri flowers after her dance recital or lend a shoulder to cry on if some idiot of a boy breaks her heart. And when Zac walks in from the house with straight A's on his report card, I'm not there to take him to go celebrate. I don't know if it's me being homesick or me really battling with the fact that I'm missing out on some great years in the lives' of my younger siblings.

I do what I can from afar. But I know it's not the same as actually being there.




I just hope I'm doing enough...

Why Am I Here?

My original plan with writing this blog was to have something to do in my free time. I wanted to keep it to a "once per week" routine, but seeing that I have a lot of time on my hands I figured I should just write whenever I get the urge to.

So here we go...

A couple days ago, I addressed the impact the Lord played in bringing me to this specific point in life. Everyone has their own story and I'm sure the majority are more heart-wrenching than what I went through. But just like everyone else I find myself asking Him, "Why am I here?". On the surface that answer is quite simple. I'm here to glorify God through the game of basketball, entertain the fans, while displaying the talents that He has blessed me with. No doubt I am thankful for this calling, but in all honesty I know that I'm here for a much bigger reason...I just haven't figured it out yet.



As time goes by, my heart grows more and more for not only the people of Manila but the country as a whole. I don't think it was any coincidence that the Lord placed me in this country during the recent tropical storms that ripped through the Philippines and Southeast Asia. My "name" and paycheck finally felt like it was put to better use than getting me out of a ticket (people in the PI know), getting me in the club, or that lil bit of self-confidence and arrogance that I still need to feed from time to time. I'm in no way asking for another disaster to happen just so I can utilize my resources to help others, but I am asking for more clear opportunities to do His work. Not for my own self-glorification but more so to know the deeper calling that He has for me here.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is this--To the untrained eye (or the eye not guided by Him) my purpose here in the Philippines is simple. Get buckets, make money, and enjoy the experience. But for those who are trying to walk the route that I know He has planned, I ask for continued prayer and a vision driven purpose.

Why am I here? I don't know yet...but He does...BBB

How did I get here?

Growing up as a coach's kid, I always expected to get a Division I scholarship. To be completely honest, I thought it would be easy. The arrogance and self-confidence that was in me during high school was never too much to turn people away but just enough that they could see that I had bigger plans on my mind (at least that's the perception I think I gave off). When I moved to Pennsylvania my junior year I thought the college recruiting process was going to take off. Why wouldn't it? I had started every game but one at my high school in TX and showed out at a summer team camp. But for some odd reason those "big time schools" that I thought were going to be knocking down my door never showed up. Junior year passed, and unlike the rest of my classmates I hadn't even thought about applying to colleges. "Apply? For what? I'm getting a scholarship," was the only thought going through my mind (even though I didn't have a single offer). Fall ends and my senior year of basketball starts and naturally I have a little chip on my shoulder. You would think leading your team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks during a State Championship year would warrant at least a couple of D-I offers, but He didn't work things out for me that way. Dazed and confused I scrambled for an opportunity only to have door after door close. Now here I am with no options to pursue higher education or a higher level in the sport I love. But isn't it a blessing how the Lord works.

I never doubted that God would place me where I need to be.

During all my sulking, complaining, and confusion I get a phone call from an assistant coach at George Mason University. It just so happens the summer before my senior year started, my father stopped by campus during a recruiting trip (for football) and dropped off my highlight tape to the coaching staff. Even though it didn't happen until the Spring (after my senior season was over) the offer I had prayed for and wanted since I picked up a ball at the age of 5 was there.

The Lord humbled me, broke me down until I had no one to lean on but Him. And he placed me at a university that allowed me to get an education, play in the Final Four, and catch the eye of coaches all the way in the Philippines who eventually got my professional career started.

God is Good...and He isn't done with me yet...

New to this Blogging thing...

What's going on world? I don't know how this whole blogging thing is going to go, but I got a lot of free time and somethings on my mind and my heart that may appeal to someone out there. Only time will tell. BBB