I once paid a dollar to step behind the curtain at a carnival to see the tattooed man. And there he was, sitting in lawn chair next to a table filled with silver things. He wore shorts and no shirt so you could see that he was tattooed from head to foot, with even some designs on his cheeks and forehead. He never spoke but reached over to his table and picked up a long silver nail and a hammer. He pounded the nail up his nose then produced a long sword which he wiped with a solution before he put it down his throat. He removed those items then proceeded to push a long spike through one cheek and out the other, a big needle through his tongue, and concluded by eating (and swallowing) a light bulb. All very impressive to someone who did not understand body piercing and the arts of the tattoo. This is a tattooed and pierced world.
Most people seem to love their tattoos, although tattoo regret is creating its own little industry. (Career Opportunity Alert: become a certified tattoo remover, also known as dermatological technician.) I’ve known those who got their tattoos during the war, while in service or out of peer pressure. Some hide them with bandages or heavy makeup. Most wear them with pride. Tattoos are known to sag with time and inflate with weight if not applied in just the right place. The most popular tattoo seems to be the heart—either flowered, inscribed or broken. The prophet Jeremiah understood tattoo regret when he wrote of his people: “(Their) sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts.” (17:1)
Jesus understands tattooed hearts and body piercings as well. He still bears the holes where the nails were driven through bone and all, and a spear blade cut to His heart. (See John 20:27) That old prophet Jeremiah said there could be something else tattooed on a heart besides sin: the Word of God. (31:33)
Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Take a look at your heart. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.
Bro Darryl's Notebook 