Up A Tree

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 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 down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Luke 19:1-10

Up A Tree

Hiding in the dark shadows
this bark flaking under me
my life with all my faults
still yearns to see the Light.

I hide my face behind leaves
so green, supple and gentle
above the crowd I breathe
clinging tight as I fear falling,

This height gives me new vision
I can see the rags and the pain
beholding the ache and the ardor
I want to belong among them.

I am found out, being called
terror and hope swirl within me
I scramble down to meet with love
We hurry home to be reborn.


I