A Tattoo in a Coffee Shop

5.11.18

We've all heard it, about someone that wanted to get a tattoo as an evangelistic conversation starter . I always felt like that seemed funny; I thought it was more for the youth pastor type that felt like they needed more of a reason other than that they just wanted one. It was something you heard about in stories, not in reality...until today. Today I was seated in a window seat in a coffee shop trying to kill a little bit of time, as a perfect stranger walked across the room and he started with, "Excuse me, what's your tattoo mean?" I was caught off guard. And when I tried to explain he looked a little confused. I felt like maybe I had kinda failed, and that maybe that's where I was supposed to ask him if he had any tattoos or something? I'm not exactly sure how this is supposed to go down, being newer to the tatted club and all. Sure, I had told a lot of people why I had gotten that particular phrase, but it was usually to a friend, typically preceded by, "did it hurt?" Not random strangers in coffee shops. This was new.

After trying to go back to reading in my own little coffee-sipping, happy world, I had gone most of a page before I realized I hadn't retained much comprehension of all the little black words I had just read. What had just happened meant much more than reading about loving other people and becoming what you fill your life with(kid you not). So I prayed instead. That somehow my failed attempt would spark interest, that my life would be filled with more moments like this. That maybe that verse "always be prepared to give an answer..." was pretty applicable to people like me with a tattoo that I had gotten with intention, or even if I hadn't have had any good reason at all. I never did get back to my book. And before I left, I decided that he had already been the awkward one today, so I had nothing to lose. I decided that the best thing was to briefly show him the actual verse on my phone that had sparked my tattoo before I picked up my stuff and left. 

I left with that feeling of excitement that bubbles over and kinda just steals any other words. It's crazy how a tattoo in a coffee shop can revive a sense of purpose. Suddenly my long Friday had become meaningful and bright. I had shared what was important to me, no matter how brief to an unsuspecting stranger man. These moments are the stuff that life should be filled with a little more often. No, I probably won't be getting more tattoos any time real soon to make this happen  more, but it made me think, when was the last time I shared the hope that I have? When was the last time I talked to a stranger about life or Jesus? When's the last time somebody asked me about the things that leave a mark on my life, not just my body?  If you're like me, mayhaps it's been a little while. But there's no better feeling. We have hope, and they need a future. Does your weekend feel like it lacks a bit of meaning or purpose? Mayhaps it's time to share a little hope, or offer a short life story, or take it a step further and share coffee with a stranger. Or maybe I'll just ask the next person I see in a coffee shop with tattoos what it means to them, just because I'm curious.

...I wonder if Jesus had a tattoo what it would be....


***Since writing this post(read last night, while relaying this story), I found out that a good friend of mine that I hadn't seen in about a month had thought about me and my tattoo super randomly this week and just knew that I was going to be able to have an opportunity to share with someone because of it. What the evens. JESUS. I'm all sorts of wonder-filled.***