It’s an iconic song. It describes a large portion of my life. It has never been far from the fingertips of my brain. In 1968 Harry Nilsson released an album titled Aerial Ballet. On this album was a top hit song written and sung by Nilsson. ONE.
”One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It’s the loneliest number since the number one”
Most of my life, while I had friends who hung out with, and mostly included me, they all would probably still reflect on our time together and describe me as a loner. For the most part I lived alone while attending college . When I became “two” and got married, even from the get go it seemed the two of us lived separate existences and often passed like ships in the night. For 13 years in the high tech industry I flew around the county going to meetings, then was stuck by myself in a hotel room waiting to travel again or for the following day to start, which held yet another series of meetings.
When I left the secular world and went into ministry, The first church I pastored was essentially a one person office at the church, with me as the sole staff member. We had part time people who helped with music, and custodial work, and secretarial duties, but mostly for all those endless hours I spent in the office I was alone. The second church was a little better. It was a three person staff, with a secretary we all shared. There was some camaraderie there, but most of that time was alone time as well. The third church was one a friend of mine and I planted. Just two guys out knocking on doors, meeting people and gaining a foothold in a 55+ gated community. It was hard work, and much of it was done in my office, which was in my home, alone.
Some might read these words and see them as describing a truly depressing world. However, the complete opposite is true. The song lyrics stuck with me because by the time I hit the road traveling, I was used to being alone. By the time I started pastoring I had even more experience with aloneness, and often found comfort in knowing it was just me and God.
Weren’t you sad?
Well, that would be an easy deduction wouldn’t it? And I would never say all that time alone didn’t take a toll, on me and my family. The solace of it all was knowing that I was in fact never alone. It was indeed just one human person, me, but there was always another person present though unseen. I happen to believe that God’s Word is without error. I also believe that when God says something, that I can take whatever He says is as an absolute fact, and always true. Which brings me to…
A Second Song lyric that has stuck with me
As a small child I grew up learning to sing in church. The song “Jesus Loves Me,” has always been the anchor song from my childhood, when I turned blue and sang Harry Nilsson’s One.
Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong
Even as an adult man I love this song for its simplicity, its foundational truth-telling, and its comforting message. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is a promise from God found in the Bible, specifically in Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6. Whether you are a young child, with child-like faith, an adolescent straining for maturity, a young adult making your own way for the first time, or a seasoned veteran life-liver with wisdom just oozing from your presence… Harry Nilsson’s “One” doesn’t have to define you or your existence. There is ONE who is greater than Nilsson and all the others would-be philosophers of life. His Name is Jesus. He loves you, and is near to you now. Call His name, come to Him for strength and salvation.
As I was saying... 