I've always been interested in tattoos. I've been stopped more than once from getting one in haste, and have always been glad I hadn't. I've thought of several different ideas for what I'd like, but have never been able to settle on any one thing that I felt I could carry through my life, that would remain unchanged to me in meaning and importance. Maybe because I'm getting older, I can see more clearly now what has meaning to me. I can tell you that it is not the lizard that I once wished I had tattooed on my body.
Lately, I've been thinking about this a lot more than usual. I think I feel like I'm approaching the "either I'm going to do this or not point" soon. As I've thought about my life, I've considered my values and what has stayed with me throughout my life. Sure I love music, but my tastes change. I love my work, but don't feel like literally wearing it on my sleeve. It's what I do, not who I am. The answer I kept coming back to time and time again is my faith. I identify myself as a Christian and I openly admit my belief as well as draw strength from it. It is the aspect of strength that I feel is most important to me. I don't see my faith as a sign of weakness in mind or body. I see it as the source that I pull my strength from, making me stronger in this life. Maybe this is the secret sauce behind the Tenacious in Tenacious S. 
In Judaism,Rastafarianism and Christianity the symbol used for strength, power and wisdom of leadership is the lion. The Lion of Judah crosses boundaries in all three of these faiths to represent not only strength, but hope. Bathed in Messianic symbolism, the Lion of Judah represents the Messiah and His ultimate power to release us from our human bondage. To me, this is freedom and the hope of justice and peace. These are the values that are my foundation in life.
If I were to get a tattoo, I've decided that it would be the Lion of Judah. My strength in life, my hope of justice and peace. 
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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11 comments:
I love you. I think that's a fabulous, and very personal idea for a tattoo. Anytime you want someone to hold your hand, I'm there.
Make sure you get one that doesn't look like the cowardly lion though.
Lu, I kind of like the bottom lion only I think I want just black ink. I've also seen a lion that looks more like a heraldic lion on his hind legs rearing up that I kind of like.
Beautiful! When you decide to do it, spend some time finding an artist you feel good with and can talk to. And make sure you get it BIG...well, not huge, but big enough that it registers as a lion, and that detail shows up. I've seen people make the mistake of picking out a fierce animal like a bear and getting it done too small, and it looks like a hamster. You don't want that.
When I finish the marathon this October I'm getting more work done. I haven't decided whether to get a new one, but more likely I'll get the one on my right arm turned into a half sleeve.
What a great idea Ten S. I've never regretted getting my little hip tattoo and think I'd like another but haven't settled on another that has enough meaning. Mine is a Japanese character meaning vigour and I really loved the way it looked more than anything but also liked the power of the word.
Bubs-I've already thought of that. I was originally thinking about doing having one on my right hip, but I think I need a shoulder blade for this.
Dale-I understand the thinking about it thing. Only took me about 20 years to decide.
Ugh...T...now I'm going to be on a tat-jag for the next week. I'm still in search of something meaningful... Maybe I'll get Pinky on one shoulder and Brain on the other - kind of a yin and yang thing... hmmm.... Lions on a Viking ship?
I love the Pinky and The Brain idea! That's hilarious, if that's wht you're going for. I have this deep down fear that once I do this it will open the floodgate. Lulu and I were talking and I mentioned that I'm not even a little bit scared. I'm actually kind of looking forward to the pain. What is wrong with me? I think they call this sensation seeking behavior. It ususally doesn't lead anywhere good. Or does it? Hey, how about just some lions swimming?
Better yet, T, how about a lion tearing apart some poor, defenseless, woodland creature? Or maybe a portrait of Richard The Lion Hearted...that would throw them for a loop...
I'm not going to get involved in the pain=pleasure conversation; you know where I stand.
I like the lion idea. Maybe get one that looks like Aslan. Although I fully support your (possible) decision to get a tattoo, my body will forever remain free of them. I plan to undergo a number of future body-shape changes which would surely distort whatever rendering I would choose.
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