Tattoos and Storms

People often ask me if my tattoos have any meaning. Some do and some don’t. One that carries absolutely no meaning whatsoever is a massive bright green frog I have on my left elbow. I am not particularly fond of amphibians. One would say I am a bit scared of them. The other day, there was a frog in our backyard, and my son asked me to grab it, and I said, “Nope. Ask your mother.” 

There is at least one tattoo that does have quite a bit of meaning. It is a ship on my right forearm. I got it for two reasons. First, because it is freaking cool. And second, it reminds me of a story about Jesus. 

Jesus and his disciples were on a boat, and out of nowhere, a massive storm came. A storm so terrifying that it made a bunch of professional fishermen cry out to Jesus, “We are going to drown!” Where was Jesus during all of this? The Gospel of Mark says, “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion” (Mark 4:38). I enjoy the detail of the cushion. Classic Jesus, taking a nappy nap when all hell was breaking loose around him. 

The disciples finally woke Jesus up with their cries, and as he was rubbing the last bit of his nappy nap from his eyes, he said to the wind and the waves, “Quiet! Be Still!” And just like that, the water was completely calm. 

The tattoo of the ship is a reminder that when everything around me is out of control, when I feel like life itself is about to overtake me, the ship that is carved into my arm forever reminds me that Jesus is in the boat with me. The storms of life do not shake him. The waves do not knock him off balance. When I am tossed to and fro by the waves, all I need to do is cry out to Jesus for help. 

Let’s take a moment to PAUSE and ask Jesus for help. Whatever emails are waiting for you to answer, whatever phone call needs to be returned, those can wait for 2 minutes as we turn to Jesus and ask him for help. 

I invite you to take a few breaths. 

In. Out. In. And back out. 

As you focus on your breathing, ask the Holy Spirit to quiet and still your mind as you pause. 

Check in with yourself. 

How is your soul? 

Think about the current storms of your life. A project at work. A tiff you had with your spouse, roommate, or child this morning. The draining bank account. The anxiety or depression that looms over you like a dark storm cloud. 

As you become aware of these storms, what feelings come to the surface? 

Worry. Anxiety. Fear. Apathy. Dread. 

Do you feel it in your body also?

Now, sit in the storm. Sit with your feelings. Don’t run away. Let the waves and rain come. 

After a few moments of getting in tune with your feelings, tell Jesus how you feel and where you feel it. Say, Jesus, I feel _______ in my _______.

Now, in faith, ask Jesus to calm these storms in my life. Ask Jesus for help. 

After you ask Jesus for help, what does he say?

Pause. Listen. Trust that he wants to speak to you. It may take a moment. Be patient. 

You may or may not have heard Jesus speak to you. If you didn’t, don’t be discouraged. The truth is that we know Jesus is in the boat with us because he sent his Spirit to dwell in us. By the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we can be confident that Jesus is with us. Jesus is in the boat. I invite you, even amid any storms you are experiencing today, to ask Jesus for the grace to trust that he is with you today. 

You may want to find an object, a quote, or something else that you can carry with you to remind you that Jesus is in the boat with you today. I don’t recommend you go out and get a ship tattoo. Tattoos are awful life decisions. There are far less painful and more cost-effective ways to be reminded that Jesus is in the boat with you. 

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