Coming Down From The Tree

When I was a little girl, I loved to climb trees, especially the apple tree in my grandmother's back yard. It was so much fun to see my surroundings from that perspective, perched out on a limb.  And the apples seemed to taste so much better when I grabbed them from the high branches! And maybe I liked sitting in the midst of apples and leaves because it felt like a safe place. Whatever it was that attracted me, I was always disappointed when my grandmother would call me and I'd have to climb down.

This morning I was reading the familiar story of Zacchaeus. If you grew up at all in any type of Sunday School, you will remember the song and all the little motions that went with it. He was a "wee, little man" who climbed a tree so he could see Jesus, because the crowds were so huge. And when Jesus saw him, he told him to come down, that he wanted to go to his house and spend some time with him. I can imagine Zacchaeus' excitement that this "teacher" would notice him, an abusive tax collector, and even want to fellowship together! Unlike my lingering in the apple tree, I'm sure Zacchaeus immediately responded when Jesus called.

I know in my own life, I often  need to "climb a tree to see Jesus."  The crowded activities and worries of everyday life push and pull me, and even though I want to see Him, my view is blocked. So I try hard to "climb the tree" by setting aside time to read, pray, and just be still... to see things from a higher perspective, and focus my thoughts. I "wait for Jesus to pass by so I can catch a glimpse of the Master." If I climb high enough, quiet my anxious thoughts enough, I not only see Him, but hear Him. He's calling me by my name. He's telling me He wants to come to "my house" where he can truly fellowship with me.  If I climb down and allow Him to come home with me, it means letting Him into the deepest secrets of my life. It means letting Him see how I truly live. It means coming down from the safety of the tree. That can be difficult, especially, if like Zacchaeus, there is shame hovering over me. But climbing down and truly allowing Jesus to fellowship with the most hidden and profound parts of my being always results in new- found freedom and salvation from the remaining "dark" areas of my life. For Zacchaeus, it meant "righting the wrongs" concerning the people he had cheated, and giving to the poor. For me, among many other things, it has meant facing the fact of sexual abuse and forgiving, even confronting, one of my abusers. 

I think I will always love to "climb the tree and eat the fruit." Yet when I'm willing to come down when Jesus calls my name and accept His invitation to come to my house and fellowship,  that's when I truly experience His marvelous salvation!