I’m doing some Bible reading in big chunks at the moment. I’m going through the New Testament in traditional order and, just under a week in, am already just about to get into John’s gospel. Most of the time, I’m reading fast: the big picture, not tiny details. Every now and then, though, a familiar story snags on my imagination. Here’s the poem that came out of the Sunday school favourite found at the start of chapter 19 of Luke’s gospel.

What if Zacchaeus had stayed home?
They said Jesus was coming to Jericho
But they also said
He was heading
To Jerusalem.
Not that far away
Surely he’ll come again
Smaller crowds for a regular visit
That would be the sensible decision.

Just a few days later
Things turned ugly
And then mysterious.
Jesus never trod Jericho’s streets again
As he had that day.

Older Zacchaeus
Much-loved ‘Uncle Zac’
Poorer and eternally richer
Looked back with a peaceful heart.
He’d given dignity and self-preservation the slip
Shimmied up a sycamore-fig
A moment’s madness the making of him.