Sometimes I Write

I’ve enjoyed the comments about my new tattoo. Benny’s was especially funny! LOL He always knows how to make me laugh. A few of my regular commenters haven’t weighed in yet and I’m pretty curious what they’re thinking. It’s possible that they don’t approve of tattoos, which is o.k. as long as they don’t totally give up on me because of this. It’s also possible they haven’t been reading here much lately. I know I’ve had a hard time getting into the swing of things since Christmas. Either way I thought I’d share a few thoughts that have been racing through my mind regarding my tattoo. (Don’t be alarmed – all of my thoughts race.)

There are many people in my life that have a problem with tattoos. Most of them don’t read my blog so I’m not throwing it in their face. Benny’s mom comes to mind instantly. She loves me very much and we’re very close, but I’m not rushing to her in my excitement about my new body art. I know it makes her uncomfortable and I’d love to know why, but I don’t push it. I hope to have that discussion some day. She didn’t like Benny’s bald head when he first shaved it either, but now it has grown on her (bad pun – sorry). She’s also had ten years to get used to it! 🙂

A year ago I was right where most of my friends who’ve commented are at. I couldn’t imagine asking someone to inflict pain on me with a tiny needle. It sounds insane! But then Benny got his tattoo and I loved it. Somewhere in the back of my mind it became a possibility. I talked to Benny about it and told him I would never do it unless it was uniquely mine (like his is unique to him) and it had to be something of great meaning to me. I have never found anything I would want on my body for the rest of my life until now. I’m glad so many people like it, and I hope it is a tool for me to share Jesus with people. I did it for me, and secondly for those whose ears would be open because of it.

I’m not sure why there are so many in the religious community who have a problem with body art. While I was growing up, tattooed and pierced people were looked down upon by “good folk”. It was a sign of fast living and bad choices made. I know there are many, many, people who are decorated for less than honorable reasons and with very “worldly” pictures and symbols. But like a lot of other things in this world (like holidays, stories, etc.) we can take what may have originally been meant for worldly means and claim them for Christ. For example:

Benny and I attended a Youth Specialties Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis in 2003. Jay Bakker (son of Jim & Tammy Faye) was one of the speakers that year and he had quite a following of youth workers there. These youth ministers and volunteers looked as Goth as some of the outcasts you know in your neighborhoods and local schools. I have never seen so many piercings and tattoos on Christians before, and it was clearly obvious to everyone around them that they loved Jesus and they loved teens. They were reaching out to a different crowd of teens than those that line your church pews on Sundays. My guess is that their looks got their feet in the door with the kids that don’t fit the church mold. It was not an act or a show. They were comfortable in their skin, and if I can teach you anything about teens, hear this: They can spot a fake a mile away.

This is Benny’s tattoo. It’s on the inside of his wrist and it’s a little smaller than a half dollar. The symbol is the Japanese kanji for “Oak” which is what God has been telling Benny his name is, and who he is becoming. He is strong with deep roots, and he is to be a place where people find shade and rest. The four dots are me and the kids, with room to add more when we adopt.:)

Body art tells the story of the one wearing it. Pay attention. Like me, the tattooed person may be waiting to explain why they chose the designs they did. People like to tell their story. We all have that deep need to be heard or known, or atleast be able to express ourselves. That’s one of the reasons there are now over 50 million blogs on the web written by people from all over the world.