The One And Only

I’ve seen this old Chesney Hawkes/Nik Kershaw song in a different light…

I’ll still be doing it the way I do it
And yet, you try to make me forget
Who I really am
Don’t tell me I know best
I’m not the same as all the rest

Identity, self-confidence, self-worth, value and purpose remains a huge issue for many people…

I am the one and only
Nobody I’d rather be
I am the one and only
You can’t take that away from me

It’s Christmas… The prophets say: ‘A prince/king is coming – the one-and-only.’ The angel appears to Mary: ‘You’ll have a baby, the son of God, the one-and-only. The angel appears to shepherds: ‘I bring you good news of a Saviour, the one-and-only.’  Adult Jesus says: ‘I am the light of the world, the good shepherd. I am the one-and-only.’

I’ve been a player in the crowd scene
A flicker on the big screen
My soul embraces
One more in a million faces

High hopes and aspirations
Add years above my station
Maybe but all this time I’ve tried
To walk with dignity and pride

Who am I? Ordinary, no one special. Yet by faith this one-and-only Jesus enables me to live ‘high hopes and aspirations… with dignity and pride’. I am the one-and-only Malcolm, valued and valuable, a unique individual.

I can’t wear this uniform
Without some compromises
Because you’ll find out that we come
In different shapes and sizes

No one can be myself like I can
For this job I’m the best man
And while this may be true
You are the one and only you

I see my friends and family in a fresh light. They too are unique, one-and-onlys, with unique talents, purposes, characters, to be loved and cherished. Because of the one-and-only Jesus I can encourage them to sing:

I am the one and only
Nobody I’d rather be
I am the one and only
You can’t take that away from me.