By Rosie Moore

In the book of Luke in the Bible, there a short story about a short man. His name was Zacchaeus, who was identified as a wealthy tax collector. Jews often viewed tax collectors as traitors for working for the Roman government collecting taxes from fellow Israelites, as well as frequently demanding additional money to pad their personal bank accounts. So, Zacchaeus was likely shunned from his community.

I thought of Zacchaeus one day when, in the middle of a crowd at a motorcycle demonstration where riders performed breathtaking tricks, I found myself needing to stand on my tiptoes to see. Glancing around, I noticed three children perched in a nearby tree, apparently because they could not get to the front of the crowd to see the action.

As Jesus passed through Jericho, Zacchaeus longed to see Him but was unable to see over the crowd. So, perhaps feeling both desperate and lonely, he climbed into a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse. And it was there, on the outskirts of the crowd  that Jesus searched him out. His intention was to be a guest at his home. I can imagine how astonished Zacchaeus felt.

There are –or–were many short famous people, such as Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Paul Simon, Michael J. Fox. And we can’t forget the ladies: Reese Witherspoon, Lady GaGa, Jodie Foster, and Queen Victoria. And then, there’s me. Although I’m not famous in any way, I am short, as everyone who sees me knows. When I was very young, I had a medical condition that affected my pancreas which, in turn, stunted my growth. For many years I was four feet, ten inches, but, as I grew older, I went to four feet, seven inches. I jokingly tell everyone that, if I live to be 100 years old, you probably won’t be able to see me, I’ll be so small.

There are some advantages to being short:

1. You always have enough leg room.
2. It makes you look younger
3. You can wear any heels that you want
4. You become an expert at climbing shelves and reaching for high things.
5. You’re going to live longer
6. You’re great at limbo.
7. Showers are never too short for you.

Thus, there are the good reasons for being short and also disadvantages. Whichever they are, live life to the fullest!

Thought for the day: A day without laughter is a day wasted.   Charlie Chapin

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