… one mustn’t keep complying with every odd life throws at him forever.

Zacchaeus paced to-and-fro in anticipation.

Suddenly, as the sound of muffled voices, laughter and footsteps grew louder, signalling that the crowd was now approaching the street where he had been waiting, he hurriedly climbed the sycamore tree, panting.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

Luk.19:3-4 (KJV)

That was his game plan all along!

His recent discoveries had also convinced him that one mustn’t keep complying with every odd life throws at him forever.

No!

A certain day should arise when he would be strong enough to vehemently resist and say, ‘Enough is enough!’

TODAY was his own day, and THAT was his exact moment … !

Surely, he’d had his fill of misfortune: a portion too much for a lifetime. For him, it just couldn’t be life as usual anymore!

one mustn’t keep complying with every odd life throws at him. A certain day should arise when he would be strong enough to vehemently resist and say, ‘Enough is enough!’ @funmie_adebayo

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Being a dwarf had triggered a domino effect of deep pains for Zacchaeus all his life.

In all fairness, some of his life’s ‘tragedies’ had occurred without any fault of his: People hardly gave him any chance to prove his worth due to his peculiar circumstance. And because he battled with a deep sense of insecurity, it was usual for friends to tune him out once he began to falter.

Nevertheless, his fault was the fact that he never had the least courage or will to push back against opposition and people’s doubts. There was no ‘fight’ in him! Therefore, he caved in under the weight of his circumstance in total resignation!

His fault however, was the fact that he never had the least courage to push back against resistance. There was no ‘fight’ in him! @funmie_adebayo

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All these odds against Zacchaeus made him relate to life from the stand point of his ugly circumstances and inadequacies. Therefore, his mind and spirit were as dwarfed as, and even more tortured than his physical body! Consequently, the only remedy he found to his quest for significance was stealing, cheating and manipulation.

Consequently, the only remedy he found to his quest for significance was stealing, cheating and manipulation. @funmie_adebayo

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But all that was history now. He had left every bit of those negative traits behind and had simply moved on. He was a brand new person now and the whole of Jericho would soon discover that. THAT DAY, he would be meeting the only Man who would love and believe in him enough to give him another chance: a fresh opportunity to start all over and rewrite the narrative of his own life. The only One who would not judge him based on his infirmities, inadequacies or iniquities, but would be gracious enough to give him the chance to prove his worth and to live a normal life like any other ‘normal’ person- in spite of his inadequacies.

THAT DAY, he would meet the only Man who would believe in him enough a fresh opportunity to rewrite the narrative of his own life. @funmie_adebayo

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And not only was he planning to meet the Lord- he must also get Him to lodge with him that night! And he had already worked out how he would make the Lord locate and choose him among the tumultuous crowd of ‘more qualified’ people. This was his strategy:

If the multitude of tallleeeerrrrr people beneath wouldn’t allow Jesus look up, he would shout His covenant name at the top of his voice, as blind Bartimaeus had done a while ago. Afterwards, he would dive into the crowd head-long: throwing his entire little frame right on them all.

That would be untidy, of course; but he was that determined! At all cost, he must take the Lord home with him that day! His heart raced in anticipation as he saw the crowd approaching…

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Credits – Excerpted from the reviewed version Stepping Up to be Seen, an innovative blend of fantasy and inspiration by Funmi Adebayo. Watch out for release dates. Featured image Photo by Monstera from Pexels