One by Sharon Heagy

 

            One. Such a significant number for being the least in quantity. “One is the Loneliest Number” sang Three Dog Night. Bob Marley’s mellow reggae tune speaks of “One Love.” “You’re still the one who can scratch my itch” belts out the band Orleans while “One singular sensation” describes the star of the show in the Broadway hit A Chorus Line.

            Then there are books which have the number one in the title. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. And of course the wonderful book written by that great philosopher, Theodor Geisel, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss)

            One can be the mistake everyone remembers. You can do something without consequence hundreds of times but make that one error and that’s what people remember! 

            The Jewish faith takes numbers very seriously. The Hebrew number one is a distinct number that never changes, it is always one due to its indivisibility. The number one references God in daily prayers, morning and evening, as they recite the beginning of Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” These are usually the first words taught to Jewish children and they are part of their bedtime prayer. They are also to be the last words uttered by those who are dying.

            In the writing world, one is also an important number. One is the number of ideas we need to begin. One is the number of papers, pens or computers we need to get started. One is the number of words to get down on a page and get going.  Just one. Everything we write can flow out of just one. A melting icicle will begin its thaw with a single drip that turns into a steady stream as the heat increases and the melting amps up. Sometimes a large icicle will suddenly crash down like a dagger in the snow. This is sometimes what happens with writing as we begin with one. Once the flow of words starts it can become a torrent.

            But the greatest, most magnificent number one for the writer of faith is the One. What a privilege to have such a Source as Him. Have you ever noticed how lyrics of a popular song can be sung about or to Jesus? I think about that a lot when I hear various tunes and I was thinking about that as I read the lyrics to Marvin Hamlisch’s One, so I changed the lyrics a bit:

 

One singular sensation, every little step He takes

One thrilling combination, every move that He makes

One smile and suddenly nobody else will do

You know you’ll never be lonely with You-Know-Who

 

One moment in His presence and you can forget the rest

For the Lord is second best to none, son

Oooh! Sigh! Give Him your attention

Do I really have to mention He’s the One.

 

            Unfortunately, I am more cognizant of all the Lord has done during this season leading up to Easter. Unfortunate because I should be acutely aware all the time. When I clack away on these keys or scribble words on my ever-present writing pad, I am thankful for the One who paid a price so dear and allowed me to know Him and for the gift to write. 

            May you be blessed beyond words as you spend time with the One.