Walking Art
by Kathy Brown on October 2nd, 2010 | 0 comments
The first time I ever saw a fresh tattoo was when my son got one the day he turned eighteen. No need to expound on why it was on this birthday he trucked off to the parlor! When he came home, he tenderly called me close and raised his sleeve to show me his newly acquired bicep adornment. It looked so big. Momentarily, I reflected on the bare little toddler arm I used to put sweaters on; it had been soft and sweet. But, there before my eyes was a young man with his version of adulthood imbedded in his skin. I fought to look on the bright side. It wasn’t a snake or a length of barbed wire or skull and bones. There were no embarrassing words. Actually, the sun face wasn’t so big when I backed up.
Why do many of us find it difficult to relate to inked body parts? At first, the whole idea was offensive because the only tattoos I had ever seen were on sailors, a Hell’s Angel or Popeye. So, accepting a fad with nuances did take some getting used to. As more and more of this “art” was produced, it became an interesting gallery to critique.
What does all of this have to do with worldview? Francis Schaeffer, in his book How Then Shall We Live, reveals that we learn about a culture’s worldview through the buildings, paintings, music and literary works of its time. What we see outwardly stamped on relics often shouts to us what was important and why.
A tattoo gives us a glimpse into the soul of another. Its location, color and design are strategically chosen. It is a painful, intentional statement of some sort. For those of us who want a place to discuss ideas, it’s a great place to start. Never pass up the opportunity to stroll past a walking easel and get right into the rich, meaningful conversation at hand . . . or wherever it may be.
From Ephesians 6:12:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
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