Up A Tree

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:1-10

Up A Tree

I am too often climbing
higher for more to see
up towards the sunshine
away from the harsh crowds.

I am too often not welcome
in the small groups of beauties
among the caustic adored intellectuals
nor about the cathedral's marbled halls.

Outcast for making a living
overlooked for caring for my family
refused for the color of my skin
and who my parents were not.

The one up a tree has been invited
despite the norms and society's rules
God walked the earth to make welcome
those who had to climb to see.

God walks the earth, the dust and mud
seeking the lost and left aside
the aching spurned and those turned away
offering a place at the groaning table.