Tattoo Your Mark

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

I didn’t think he’d do it.  This man, so particular, so neat and tidy, one who values what he has and works hard to keep things in like-new condition.  He’d rather maintain and fix than buy new. An old school kind of guy.  Old trucks, old cars, old movies, old music. One who wished he’d been born decades earlier. In a simpler time.  Nary a rebellious streak in him.  A former police officer who obeys every traffic rule.  Yup, that’s him. Regimented. Not a wild hair to be found. He uses coasters religiously to prevent water marks on his furniture—surely he’d never mar his body. That’s what I thought.  But there it was as plain as the nose on his face…uh, his arm…a tattoo!

He told me ahead of time he made the appointment—even described his design, but I didn’t think he’d go through with it.  But he did.  And I have to admit the tattoo suits him. A piston and wrench in crisscross fashion surrounded by music notes.  By my description of him, you probably agree that it fits.  But there’s another part of the tattoo—a pair of dice.  A gambling man? Not really. He doesn’t play the lottery or cards or slots. He doesn’t bet on the horses or the games.  And he doesn’t gamble at making decisions—not a risk-taker. Every decision is well-thought-out.

So why the dice? Because that’s Kevin’s outlook on life. Like rolling the dice, you never really know how it will turn out. You may plan well and think through every decision.  But certain situations arise that are beyond your control. And things happen so unexpectedly that it’s…well… as shocking as Kevin getting a tattoo.

Last night I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook. “So, I see you’re a teacher,” he said, “I thought you’d be a CEO of a big company by now.”

That’s what I thought…back then…when he and I first met.  That’s when I was in college, majoring in business and accounting and actively involved in Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders) and at the helm of Maryland’s state PBL delegation.  That’s when I placed fourth in the National Ms. Future Business Executive competition. Yes, a lot of people thought I was headed for a CEO office.

But things happen. And life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect. Correction:  Life most often does not turn out the way you expect.

I didn’t expect to leave the accounting field and become a teacher.  I didn’t expect to be writing a blog of spiritual devotions.

But things happen. Plans change. People change.

I’ve never been a fan of tattoos, and my reason goes beyond the whole marring-of-your-body thing. It’s about the design. How many times have people gotten tatted up with pictures and symbols that they are stuck with years later when the tattoos no longer represent who they are and their values? How many times do people get a tattoo of their lover’s name and then the relationship sours?

Things happen. People change.

This is Kevin's, but what would I get on mine?

Like I said, I’m not the tattooing kind. But IF I were, what kind of tattoo would I get? An apple and a pen in crisscross fashion?  Maybe.  A pair of dice?  Hmm. I agree that things change and you never know how your life will turn out, but there is One who never changes (Hebrews 13:8), and He definitely knows how your life story will turn out.  He’s the One I met when I came to the crossroads and made the best decision of my life. And I know I can trust Him with my life, for He has had a plan for me since I was knit together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16). I can count on Him to make all things work together for my good (Romans 8:28). And that’s a sure bet!

A pair of dice?  Nah, a pair of lines intersecting in crissCROSS fashion.

Dear Lord, I trust You with my life. Tattoo Your mark on me, Your story on my heart. Amen.

I'm an empty page

I'm an open book

Write Your story on my heart

Come on and make Your mark

 

Author of my hope

Maker of the stars

Let me be Your work of art

Won't You write Your story on my heart

 

Write Your story, write Your story

Come on and write Your story, write Your story

Won't You write Your story on my heart

 

My Life

I know it's never really been mine

So do with it whatever You like

I don't know what Your plan is

But I know it's good, yeah

—Francesca Battistelli 

Note:  Interested in what the Bible says about tattoos?  Check out this commentary from Relevant Christian.