Tattoos and A Call to Service
Would you get a tattoo?
Think about that seriously for a moment. For most readers of this blog, I know it’s not something that comes up, what with the biblical prohibition and all. But it’s an interesting thought exercise. If you could, would you?
I would use this barometer - is there anything you would have wanted tattooed on your body five years ago that you would still want now?
My personal answer is no. Tattoos are too permanent, and the potential for change too great. But that’s just my take. I performed a non-scientific, non-randomized poll of friends and family and got a lot of great responses:
“Absolutely. Serenity Prayer around my ankle.”
“No. I have commitment issues.”
“Yes. A small heart or something on the inside of my wrist.”
“No I wouldn't. I'm not fit enough. Tattoos on my fat saggy skin would look terrible.” (Ouch)
“I would do on my ankle...something small and sweet, like a strawberry.”
“I would not; a tattoo is something you have a day to enjoy and a lifetime to regret.”
“I think I would want a flower through a heart.”
On the train last week, a tattoo caught my eye. It was attached to a burly man with slicked-back hair and Bose wireless headphones, shifting his weight as he waited for a seat. From the inside of his forearm, big block Hebrew letters spelled out the word Hineni.
Trying not to stare, I mustered the assertiveness to interrupt my biblically branded fellow traveler.
“Excuse me, may I ask you a question?”
[Takes off headphones] “What?”
“I wanted to ask you a question. Would you mind telling me about your tattoo and what it means to you?”
His explanation came readily: “Well, the Hebrew word Hineni means “Here I am,” and it was my father’s favorite Biblical phrase. He died last year, and I got this tattoo to remind me of him.”
It was from the story of Samuel, he said, when the prophet was a child living in the Holy Temple. One night, God called to him, and Samuel responded “Hineni.” Thinking his teacher Eli had called, Samuel woke Eli and asked what he wanted. Eli replied that he had not called, and that Samuel should go back to sleep. This repeated itself until Eli realized what had happened and told Samuel that God was calling him.
“That’s what my dad liked about Samuel’s response,” my fellow commuter continued, “It’s one word that speaks a whole sentence: a call to service. Samuel was ready to serve, no matter who was calling.”
A touching memorial and an inspiring call to serve, embodied in one word on an otherwise bare arm. Inspiration may fade over time, but a tattoo is indelible. And if it can serve to remind us that we exist in this world only to serve, such a tattoo may be a worthy addition to a beautiful expanse of God-given skin.
Alas, God’s instructions seem to preclude such reminders.
Okay, God.
Hineni.