The answer is: Up a tree

Luke 19

Ah, Zacchaeus! The curious tax collector who found himself way up in a sycamore tree! This little story tickles the imaginations of many. You see, it wasn’t just any tree; the sycamore had broad branches perfect for setting down your fears of public scrutiny. Tax collectors in Jesus' time were often seen as traitors, squeezing every shekel they could from their fellow Jews while aligned with the Romans. So, it’s easy to see why Zacchaeus, desperate for a glimpse of this prophet, might have wanted to go incognito among the leaves!

Isn’t it delightful how this short, determined man stands in stark contrast to the spectacle around him? The great crowds were bustling about, and there he was, keen on not missing out on something special. His name actually means "pure" or "innocent" in Hebrew. So who would’ve thought that a man whose profession was sinning in the eyes of society could inspire such a moving moment of acceptance from Jesus?

This moment mirrors the theme of the lost being found, which resounds throughout scripture—from the prodigal son to the woman with the lost coin. Just another reminder that often, it’s those who feel out of place who find the greatest meaning in their search for connection. Plus, by approaching Zacchaeus in the tree, Jesus shows us all that there are no depths—or branches—people can’t reach out from. Who knows who you might discover if you look up now and then!