Developing Your Own Winning Strategy

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.– Luke 19:1- 4 (NKJV)

Right from the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, the issue of limitation in ability came into place. And every now and then, man keeps embarking on means of managing and overcoming his seemingly unending challenges. 

I remembered a course we were taught in my final year in the university. The introduction of the course involved the study of the need of shelter for mankind. It included the need to protect himself from atmospheric conditions such as heat, rain, cold, hostile neighbors, enemies, ferocious animals as well as the quest for privacy. 

A clear picture of what the first house ever built looked like may not be readily available, but you will agree with me that considering when you were born and now, building and construction technology keeps evolving day after day. As former structures are unable to meet the demands of its owners or occupants, the structures are pulled down and new ones are built. 

Through a constant or rather continuous re-invention of the wheel, technologies with limitations keep giving way to newer ones. The challenges that a technology may be facing today may be virtually nowhere to be found when the technology was made. Since man’s wants and life’s challenges are unending, there must be a continuously evolving well developed means to meet up. Software engineers understand better, that is why you can have up to four SP (Service Packs) for a single operating system before the release of a new operating system. 

In the Bible passage we are considering, the man Zacchaeus has to do with a limitation; his physical shortness. Take note of the word “physical shortness” because I’m more than convinced that he is not short on the inside. On the fateful day, Chief Zacchaeus had the interest to see who Jesus was. I’m terribly convinced that his goal getting spirit was at work that day. But the challenges before him were in two phases; one, he is short, two; there was a large crowd. 

Recently, I came across a Bible story illustration book for children; Out On A Limb by Marilyn Lashbrook. It has