My dad challenged me to write a song about Zacchaeus from the Bible. You probably remember the childhood song about Zacchaeus being a wee little man who climbed up in a tree to see Jesus.
But instead of thinking about Zacchaeus, I started thinking about the tree. What kind of tree was it? How big was it? What made it the perfect place to climb? I began researching trees and became fascinated by the enormous canopy and shelter a sycamore could provide.
Then my imagination took over. What if Zacchaeus wasn't the only one who benefited from that tree? How many weary travelers might have rested beneath its branches? How many people had found shelter from a storm or comfort in its shade?
What started as a song about Zacchaeus became something entirely different. “Sycamore Tree” became a song about finding rest, protection, and strength in God's love. Sometimes the most interesting part of a familiar story is the part we've never really stopped to think about.