Zacchaeus, out on a limb

Faith includes a willingness to look foolish.

"When the storm began to sound, I lost no time in pushing out into the woods to more thoroughly enjoy it. For on such occasions nature always has something rare to show us, and the danger to life and limb is hardly greater than one would experience crouching deprocatingly beneath a roof."

-- John Muir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir)

"It is a standing rebuke against becoming a mere spectator to life, preferring creature comfort to Creator confrontation."

-- Eugene Peterson, talking about John Muir hanging on to the top of a tree in a storm

Zacchaeus (story in Luke 19:1-10: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:1-10;&version=65;) was another one of those crazy risk-takers who was willing to look like a fool for just a glimpse of Jesus, let alone having him as a house guest, but he knew his house needed a major cleaning and re-ordering. Not only was Zacchaeus willing to look foolish in his way, so was Jesus himself. After all, he ate and stayed with a tax collector, going against all religious political correctness and tradition of the time. I think God is looking for such courageous, risk-taking "tree-climbers" - people who are willing to do whatever it takes to experience Him - whether climbing trees, crashing parties, yelling out for Him like the blind beggar, sitting and talking with blind beggars, cutting holes in ceilings, jumping out of boats, following stars, loving like there's no tomorrow, especially where it's hard - no, make that impossible. Faith is a willingness to feel, look, and sound foolish attempting to see His face. It is believing in the invisible AND acting on that belief without supporting physical evidence spurring you on. And if you're not willing to look foolish, you're truly being foolish. I wonder if one act of total, faith-led foolishness might be the only thing that separates you from your dreams and your true life.

Isn't it time to go out on a limb for the life you seek - and to possibly get your house put in order? In this day and age, a life of calm, quiet desperation is certainly more dangerous and risky than risking it all to catch one stunning glimpse of what could be (and was promised for free), but you have to be willing to risk everything - including your feeling comfortable, right, safe, and strong - to have it all.

P.S. Could you imagine how many times collectively these three gentlemen (at link below) had to overcome their fear of looking or sounding foolish to get to this level of celebration and mastery of their God-given craft and gift?

http://vodpod.com/watch/1116988-ray-charles-jerry-lee-lewis-fats-domino

What a hilarious, hog-wild, honky-tonkin' hootenanny!!!

Picture loving like this, no matter what!