I got a tattoo on the Race! (well actually I’ve gotten two - but this is just my part 1 blog ;)

I had two tattoos before I left in October.

I got my first tattoo my senior year of college - 2011. It’s a typical “first tattoo” but it still means a lot to me. It’s a symbol of my fraternity used to represent Jesus - an Alpha and Omega linked with the “Tau” cross.

The second I got after Kayla and I decided to commit to the Race. It’s the handwriting of one of my best friends (Micah) and says “As it is in Heaven”. Read more about why I got #2 in this blog.

My third was the first tattoo I got on the World Race. It’s a negative space cross on the back of my right arm with roses and lilies wrapped around it.

I got the idea for this tattoo from Song of Solomon of all places - I know, random right?!

I am a Rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” - Song of Solomon 2:1

As I was researching more into the meaning of the flowers, I found this commentary:

“Whether Christ, or the church, is here speaking is not certain: most of the Jewish writers, and some Christian interpreters, take them to be the words of the church, expressing the excellency of her grace, loveliness, and beauty, she had from Christ; and intimating also her being in the open fields, exposed to many dangers and enemies, and so needed his protection. The church may be compared to a "rose", for its beautiful colour and sweet odour, and for its delight in sunny places, where it thrives best, and is most fragrant…” - from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

To me this is a clear picture of the simplicity of grace and new life in Jesus. God sees us as beautiful - like a rose - clothed in the righteousness of Christ. In Christ we are fragrant - covered with the graces of Holy Spirit. We thrive under the sun (Son) of righteousness. God’s beloved is who we are - Jesus said "our Father" in the Lord's prayer and that fact changes everything!