Just over three years ago I spent a couple of hours of my New Year’s Eve in a tattoo parlour with my sister. She got her first tattoo and I got mine.
Written in Hebrew is Philippians 1:21 – “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.
I have explained to people on a few occasions that I would never get a second tattoo because I would probably end up with a tenth one too. Unfortunately I used the word never. And in my experience things you apply ‘never’ to, happen. Add to that the fact that a trip like the World Race is the type of trip in which people get tattoos and you should have already come to the conclusion that, yes, I now have a new tattoo.
“What did you get? What did you get?” I hear you ask. Well, it’s something I’ve been thinking about since month two to be honest. One of the tasks done in the orphanage was to paint the (Chinese) words for the fruit of the spirit onto a painting of a tree. I found myself thinking that would be a cool tattoo idea, an idea which quickly developed to the fruit of the spirit in nine different languages. Next month I chose nine languages – languages that are the most spoken in the world or have been the most influential in some way – and found the fruit of the spirit in bibles in those languages (cross referencing with translation services to be sure). I then chose which language for which word I wanted, ordered it around a bit and hey presto, a tattoo design. That design went through a few revisions in layout and size but I ended up with a final.
And here it is:
“Well, what’s what exactly?” you want to know. Don’t fear. Whilst creating it I also made a translation and a key to which language is which.
Two tattoos now, both from the Word of God.
This one reminds me that these characteristics – the fruit of the Spirit – transcend any geographical or cultural barriers and are one of the things that bind us as Christians all over the world.
Can people read “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” when they look at you? :-p
