Zacchaeus

You know. . . he’s the one spectating up in the sycamore tree while Jesus walks by.

This morning in my work place devotions we considered what person in the bible we wanted to be like. There was one I wanted to be like who I aspire to and then there was this fondness I found myself having for Zacchaeus because we’re alike.

The image of him up in that tree stays in my mind, curious and drawn to what is going on. He’s heard a lot of wild stuff about this man coming through town. He’s skeptical by nature and thinks he’ll get a good look at things before making up his mind.

That’s me, if ever there was a picture. I’m curious and drawn, but I stand on the edge. I’m pretty sure no one has noticed. No one has minded my presence at all.

Then suddenly the man whom all this clamor is about turns round looks straight at me and says “come down, I need to stay at your house.”

Yep, me and Zacchaeus are kindred here. Shocked that we’ve been called out, but glad too. We’ve no intention of saying no to this man. The way he noticed, the way he knew, and the look in his eye are to real to be denied. We climb down and get more intimately acquainted.

This story keeps playing out in my life. Just when I think I’m nice and cozy and hidden away in the corner someone says my name. It’s the shock of notice that stay’s with me and the realization that I can’t really hide. There’s the “who me?” that always pops up and the sudden fear that I won’t have what is needed, but then I find that I do. More and more there is the thrill of knowing that when Jesus calls he knows what he is doing and I can trust that what he has given me is enough.