The Power of One

One phone call—the doctor told her she had skin cancer.

One phone call—their son told them he was in jail for first-degree murder.

One phone call—her husband's secret girlfriend called to make her aware of the affair.

One accident—he plowed into the back of a semi.

One phone call—and I had hope again.

One friend—and I ceased feeling alone.

It's a pattern I've been noticing now that we're into our tenth month of weekly podcasts. It feels like almost every story we capture can point back to one phone call, one accident, one traumatic moment that took people where they weren't intending to go. But it also eventually leads to one new idea, a new job or a new book.

I've been thinking about the power of one—in a positive way. I've had the seed idea for a song for a couple of years and I'm trying to get back to a schedule that allows for daily songwriting. It's not been an easy goal thanks to ONE big Christmas show I've been doing each year. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the show and what it stands for. I just wasn't prepared for how much it would upset my comfortable routine. I've gone from feeling like I could flow from week to week in a given year and now everything revolves around one huge event and everything else is fighting for attention. The very ONE thing that started my idea has created a multi-laned highway going many different directions simultaneously.

In my attempt to get back to writing blogs and songs, I pulled out the song I started two years ago. I really wanted it for last year's show in December, but I just couldn't get it to where it needed to be so I'm trying to get into writing again. As with most songs, it starts with my own experience and sparks an idea for a new song.

For instance, years ago, I walked into the auditorium of a very big church and felt completely alone, though it was filled with plenty of people. How can one person feel so lonely in the midst of a crowd I thought to myself. I almost got up to leave, it was so uncomfortable. Then a friend of mine surprised me and sat down beside me and my whole mood changed. Now I didn't care how many people were there. Her presence was all I needed to feel at home.

On another occasion, at one of the lowest points of my life, someone called me out of the blue and said,
"I don't know if this will make sense, but I feel like I'm supposed to tell you something".
I eagerly waited.
"Don't quit".
He had no idea that it was exactly what I needed to hear in that season of my life.

One person, one phone call.

It's the power of one.