What's With all the Tattoos?

Tattoos seem to be everywhere. The tattoo parlors or ink shops must be doing a booming business. Needless to say, these days when I notice something and start thinking about it, the first thing I do is bring it up on Google. Where or when is the beginning of these things? The answer somehow does not shock me, but telling nonetheless; according to a recent archaological find in the Italian Alps, tattoos have been inscribed on humans for about 5300 years! So much for this old guy’s observation that tattoos are a new trend.

In my previous ‘tome’ critiquing us noisy oldtimers analyzing all things at room volume in public places, I was ready to say the problem is us. This time however, I must absolve us old guys; I take aim at the younger ones (insert smiley or groany here)! [And please note also, I feel somewhat free to share these slightly risky thoughts because I know my kids do not read these things].

What impetus is it that requires hundreds of dollars to employ a skin artist to poke owies on a customer’s skin surface? Or who are the ones willing to submit to this, and what brings on the occasion? Is it after heart-to-heart conversation, or therapy sessions where the client perhaps cries some heartfelt tears and the artist interprets and transcribes the occasion onto skin? Or is it kind of self-indulgence, transferring an emoji or other favorite slogan or image onto skin? Mom? A Bible verse? Or? I do not have answer to these questions because I have not yet felt free enough to ask these moving sign tubes about their present stance. In fact, this blogpost is probably about communication – the very thing my thinker is busy with this time.

What is communication? The Canadian province of Alberta comes to mind. A referendum is underway – ten questions to identify the people’s feelings about our place in this country. Do we like our place within Canada or should we begin an independence process. At this point the topic seems more about stance than communication. The house across the street from our place recently yielded the vantage of the new owners - Let Alberta Decide – and we, us longtime residents, have exact opposite point of view. Also, for the last number of months there has been a blue Alberta flag flapping just a bit down the back alley behind our house. My wife and I are of a considerably strong opinion that this current separatism vantage is a self-centered perspective, including also some opinion about a government that would posit these divisive referendum possibilities at mid-term. Not only a terrible waste of money, but to me the psychology of it all is even more damaging. Money is at the heart of Alberta separatists (including our premier) because we spend too much money supporting the rest of Canada who don’t pay their fair share! How dare one of ten provinces lift itself above the others, claiming no fair? Arrogance and independence thinking does not work for the benefit of a country.

Now back to the new neighbor across the street. We recently discovered they are born-again Christians attending a new church meeting in a local theatre. By now these new young neighbors also know that I am a preacher – retired obviously. They don’t know all my sentimental pastoring memories, but our faith commitment is a common bond already talked about, and they treat us very nice, just like the other neighbors who know an old preacher lives in that house! Something about this connects with my tattoo thoughts. The old preacher is either a reminder of stereotypical clergy (watch your language), or confusion (he wears jeans a lot, and he used to park his big truck in the back alley), etc. What have I communicated during the last thirty-five years living here? Referendum, tattoos, lifestyle and families; it would be good to just speak casually about it, but mostly we are city folks living side-by-side.

These statements on young arms and necks and faces and legs and torsos (yes even on the arm of the Christian young man across the street); how might we speak honestly and perhaps honorably about this? I know communication is much more than words. This time, however, seems that words are important, complete with eye contact. Wrong beginnings can of course lead to lots of miscommunication, the very thing that makes for threats, brawls, calling the cops even! The right words, however, can accomplish amazing things. In other words, be aware of your own frame of mind, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

So even among new trends utilizing old modes, why not just kind, enquiring words? Maybe this corner of our city could become a village – another old time idea - where we know about and care for one another, understanding not only weird pictures on our arms, but also the separatists, and even why the old preacher used to park his truck in the back alley.