Still Learning: Lessons of the past, present, and future

Norm Smith is a master of the straight, clear, declarative narrative, a skill that is all too rare in literature today. It is also the perfect vehicle for this highly entertaining, focused, and unusual introspective look at life itself. Norm carefully mixes deceptively simple stories of childhood and youth with enlightening experiences of substantial time spent in three separate occupations. To this concoction he adds colorful insights gained from decades of careful observation of our foibles and ourselves.

The result is often amusing, invariably insightful, and at times profound, and before we know it we have been led, subtly though logically, to face up to the serious questions we all too o en tend to avoid. Still Learning is a personal trek that somehow manages to uncover for all of us truly unexpected and pro table lessons from the past, present, and the future. At times a walk in the park, at times a bit of a steep climb, the whole journey, twists and turns included, is more than worth the trip.

—John Christgau, Author 

Still Learning is a delightful, engaging, and compelling collection of vignettes, anecdotes, remembrances, wisdom, and rules for living that is both an intellectual and spiritual travelogue of the author’s eight decade journey fighting the good fight. This book is a real page-turner, and an insightful road map for any reader seeking the life in abundance promised by the Lord.

—Fr. Aris Metrakos

Norm Smith is a wonderful story-teller. With his keen sense of humor, rich life experiences, knowledge of scripture and human nature, he plucks fruitful lessons from life’s varied orchards and presents them skillfully wrapped and polished as teaching anecdotes to be long remembered. Norm shares with us his own journey from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California migrant camp life to carpenter to Bible College and University graduate to high school English teacher and administrator, and Finally to church Pastor and author. From each stop along the way he gleaned valuable lifelessons.

His purpose is to encourage and challenge his readers to look beyond the transitory wisdom of this age and to firmly grasp the intent of life’s Creator/Designer and develop an authentic worldview to serve as a personal life template. Next June when the graduation announcements arrive, I hope to give a copy of this book to every graduate, encouraging him or her to develop a personal, studied concept of God and His ways—thereby perhaps shielding them from having to learn some of life’s key lessons and truths the hard way.

—Rev. Dennis Sawyer