I’ve had some friends ask about my new tattoo, so I thought that it’s time to spill the beans about it here on the blog. And what the heck, I’ve thought, I might as well have storytime and explain my other two while I’m at it.
The New Tat: 440
Recently, I had a good friend email me asking about my birthday, specifically if there was anything I wanted that I haven’t been willing to buy myself. After briefly mentioned a new iron (my cheapo one from Target broke recently, and in true bachelor style, I haven’t replaced it, yet. Don’t tell my Mom!!). After being called “lame,” I quickly recanted and threw out the idea of a tattoo design that has been floating around in my head for the past few months.
So, my awesome buddy Eric bought me a new tattoo for my birthday. It’s proudly on display on the inside of my left forearm.
As you can likely guess, on the surface, 440 is the number of how much I weighed at my heaviest around the turn of the year. But, on a deeper level, this tattoo serves as a monument and lasting reminder of my past and how I adamantly refuse to ever return there. While it specifically addresses the health and weight issue, the 440 issue has become indicative of larger regrets I have regarding my past life and the drive I have to shape myself a better future.
Philotheos & Doulos
On my right bicep is Philotheos is a Koine Greek (the language of the New Testament of the Christian Bible) word meaning friend / lover of God. I got it the summer after I graduated high school (2001) when on a road trip to Dallas with some friends.
Without getting too anecdotal, it was a total blast. Five of us crammed into a Crown Vic and cruised down to Texas from the Tulsa area for a weekend at Six Flag, a P.O.D. concert, and getting tattoos. Talk about some good memories!
Doulos is written on my other bicep. As you can see, it’s another Greek word; this one means servant, slave or, more archaically, bond-servant. While philotheos is rather straight forward, the servant tattoo may seem to be more nebulous. Basically, I got my inspiration for it from the following passage of Scripture in the Gospel of Matthew 20:25-28 (NASB):
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
In keeping with the spirit of the passage, the doulos tattoo is to be a reminder that I am to serve people rather than to serve myself – something that not only runs so utterly counter to our cut-throat American culture, but runs against the natural inclinations of the human spirit itself. This tattoo was done during my spring break trip to Denver my freshman year of college – another fun trip with a friend.
Ta-Da!
So there they all are. I think I’m done on the tattoo front… for now. Now I just need to start saving up for that battleship on my chest and the dancing lady on my other forearm.
In all seriousness, though, I know a lot of people I work with in the church realm have qualms with tattooing (and body piercing, as well, but I’ve never been prone to that, personally). The same goes for large segments of the business world even still today. Although, if one day I end up in locked to my desk in the middle of a cubicle farm in said business world, I’ll be wearing suits and sport coats every day (and dress shirts at the very least), and so the tattoos will all be covered regardless. I’ll admit, there was some hesitancy in placing that 440 tattoo on my forearm where a T-shirt cannot cover it, but in the end, it was a very deliberate choice. I want the world to see it. I have become that serious about the change of life I am undertaking with my health, and through that tattoo intend to keep myself reminded of the journey every time I glance downwards.
As you will see with my two other tattoos, this new one is a radical departure in the nature of precisely why I’ve gotten tattoos in the past. My two Greek tattoos represent ideals I aspire to and want to live my life by – something of a positive goal or lofty heights I am reaching high to achieve. Conversely, this most recent piece represents the past and my personal history. While the first two are dreams, the 440 tattoo is a reminder. All together, the three represent and contribute to the type of person I am continually endeavoring to become.
