Author: Wick

In Luke 19:1-10, we read an all too familiar story about Zacchaeus.  Even someone unfamiliar with much of the Bible has probably heard this story of a “wee little man…who climbed up in a Sycamore tree…etc”.  But in studying the scripture this past week, 3 new words from the story emerged that I’ve not paid much attention to in the past.  The first word (words) I want to flesh out a bit are the words of Jesus in verse 5, “come down”.

Jesus is looking up into the tree at Zacchaeus.  The description we have of Zacchaeus includes: Chief Tax Collector, rich (wealthy), and short.  Being a tax collector in general, he was viewed as a “traitor” by his Jewish community, for tax collectors were employees of Rome.  They could add amounts to the taxes they were required to collect, and they were allowed to keep that extra funding for themselves.  He was not simply any tax collector either, he was a Chief tax collector.  Which meant, he had several collectors working under him.  Let’s just say, he was not a welcome guest at very many parties.

The scripture tells us he was “trying to see who Jesus was”, but how he was trying to do so tells us a lot about how he viewed himself.  Verse 4 tells us that he “ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig tree”.  Imagine a short man running in what was most likely a long tunic.  Yes, “ἀναξυρίδες” (trousers) had been invented by then, but were often seen as clothing of the barbarians.  So tunic it was.  Probably having to “hike up” the edges as he ran, it was not the way a dignified man would carry himself.  Then he goes right into climbing a tree.  Men who wear tunics should not climb trees in the first place.  But this isn’t just any tree.  This is a tree that was guaranteed to be empty in that area.  A sycamore fig tree bore fruit that was most often fed to the pigs, and so the tree itself was even considered to be “unclean”.

Zacchaeus knew how people saw him.  A tax collector didn’t have confusion as to how the consensus felt about him.  He figured, they couldn’t think anything worse of him for running, and climbing a sycamore tree, eh?  Jesus approaches this man who has revealed his self-claimed identity through his actions, and begins by saying “hurry and come down”.

How often do we approach Jesus, already holding onto our identity firmly?  We know who we are.  We know how people think of us, and how we think of ourselves.  Maybe we’re the complete opposite of Zaccchaeus, feeling pretty good about ourselves and proud of what we’ve accomplished.  Perhaps we find ourselves climbing the sycamore right beside him, desperate to know more about this Jesus.

Wherever we find ourselves receiving our identities from this week, Jesus begins his words to us with “Hurry, come down…”

Quite literally.

This past month has been a journey, one that has offered us growth and revealed more about who we are as individuals, as well as a family.

It begins with the regular hobby of my wife (and some other women too?) of exploring open houses.  Dreaming about what it’d be like to have a bit more elbow room, closets in each bedroom, and sidewalks to teach our girls how to ride their bikes.  It’s not about being unsatisfied with our current home, realizing there are areas of the world, and even the U.S. where to have a home like ours is beyond the largest dream.

Which highlights one of the first major differences.  One of the things I’ve loved about my wife ever since we began dating in college, was her desire to change things.  She does not become complacent easily, and always asks the question “What could be?”.  Usually, for a guy with the personality that would be quite fine surviving in a house of any size as long as the dishes are done (my OCD coming through)…I haven’t traditionally responded well immediately.

But a few weeks ago, she was “ooooh”-ing over a particularly nice house in the historic end of town.  She even convinced me to come with her.  I went through the motions, and tried to “do” what was asked, without quite taking the endeavor seriously.  The house, after all, was beyond our “budget”, and it was a pipe dream.  I don’t enjoy looking at a car unless I’m going to drive it…that sort of thing.

Later that week, the price of the house was reduced in such a way that it became a possibility.  I caught my wife’s vision for “What could be?”, and we immediately transformed life into that of house-selling/buying.  Had a contingency offer accepted, based on selling our current home.  Then the waiting began.  We heard all sorts of advice, from “claim the property in prayer, and it’s yours”, to “if it’s God’s will, it’ll happen”, to the much more preferred by me – “guess you can just pray, and wait, and see if it happens”.

But these range of responses, along with a recently renewed practice of praying together regularly, added to the recent study of Luke 18:1-8, and we’ve had some good times.  What is the will of God, in regard to my home?  I teach that God cares about the smallest detail, and encourage teens to pray about anything their hearts are impacted by, no matter how silly.  All of this points to the fact that God hears our hearts when we pray for this move to happen.

Perhaps He will still actively move in a way that opens the door to this move.  It seems the door is closing, however, tempting us to ask the question – what was/is God up to?

In moments like this, we cling to the fact that God continues to be faithful.  Even the passage in Luke 18 doesn’t emphasize the widow “got her way” eventually.  It points to the fact that that faith was found, God’s complete Justice is coming, and encourages the disciples to not lose heart.  To keep praying, and that is the point.  We continue to be incredibly blessed, not simply because we have a home and other material comforts…but because we have a God who hears when we pray.

Like I said…maybe it’ll still happen.  But no matter what, I look forward to continuing to pray often with my family toward whatever may come….God with us. 🙂

This past weekend I attended “Wild At Heart”, a 24-hour retreat designed to help men re-capture their God-given masculinity…and have fun while doing it.  I have to admit, I’m not the first to raise their hand when it comes to “Who wants to come to this manly man of a man thing, where we’ll do manly stuff, and discover how God made men different from women?”  So when this opportunity presented itself, I didn’t exactly race to the table.

I was raised by my mom for a good portion of the “growin’ up” years.  As captured pretty good in Donald Miller’s book “To Own A Dragon”, he talks about growing up without a father as always feeling like the rest of the world knew something you didn’t.  Now, my mom did a pretty spectacular job raising 5 kids by herself for a while.  And if I would’ve allowed my dad now, to be my dad when he married my mom….well, I wish I would have. 🙂

I realize by now, there’s nothing actually missing.  In fact, through life’s difficulties I’ve probably grown a lot more, and added to the characteristics I would have otherwise naturally acquired.  I’m thankful for what God can use, even if it wasn’t what He desired for our lives.

But even with all that, when it comes to “typical” man categories (women, sit down…don’t get offended….I realize there are plenty of you who are “into” this stuff…much more than me.) like fixin’ cars, shooting animals, and knowing every sports statistic that is currently and historically relevant….I’m generally uninterested/inexperienced.  But I still love the guys in my life, who do naturally enjoy these things for some reason.

That was my main reason for going, and the same reason I’ve been attending “Mens’ Fraternity” here in Decatur every Thursday morning.  There is a HUGE group of men out there who relate really well to sport and hunting analogies.  And in the midst of analogies I’m not a big fan of (Emphasizing over and over again how much we need to utilize humility as some type of tool/weapon in order to “win”, etc.) there are definitely things worth hearing/talking about.

Guys being vulnerable, and pursuing the heart of God.  Recognizing it’s not about dominating the home or workplace, but serving it as Christ.  Discovering what risks/adventure God is calling in your life specifically, and having faith to step forward.   Surrounding yourself with a “band of brothers” who can support each other in these things.

Not sure these are specifically “manly” callings….but it sure helps for men to be honest about them when they’re separated by gender for a bit.  Good relationships being built, and God is receiving glory. 🙂