Friday, April 4, 2008

Placate Popcorn: Why Get Tatted Up?

Somebody help me. If you understand the desire to tattoo oneself, please stand up. If you can type standing up, now explain it to Popcorn. This one really slays me. I was born without the body- as- a -canvas appreciation gene. I understand make-up, nail polish, jewelry, tanning, "work", lipo, clothing statements...I decorate myself up as much as the next person and I do what I can to look pretty, of course! But with things that don't HURT and can be REMOVED before bed. I like to express myself...but not with a needle jabbing my skin with permanent ink in the shape of a dragon. Sometimes it appears to be an outward manifestation of utter self loathing if the tattooing is extensive. Ok, I hear the exasperated eye brows raising. So perhaps Popcorn is just, well, boring..too yesterday.(or yestercentury) I like edgy. At 35 (huh?) I like a certain edgyesque style within the confines of sort of... I appreciate creativity. I respect a certain brand of non-conformity.The funniest people I know (and the best dancers!) are the ultra out-there crowd who only know how to be the do their own thang kind of people. But really and truly, what are the reasons behind it tattooing? Isn't it telling that individuals involved in the drug culture are some of the most tatted up people? Could it be that what they think is a conscience choice stemming from rebellion might really be their very soul's effort to make invisible misery now starkly clear? Branding themselves how they believe others perceive them already? How does marking the body fit into the body as God's temple doctrine? Does it matter? What is the overarching message of a life tattooed??? Inquiring minds want to know.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I just read your blog comment on the LPM site and I had to visit your page. Your post touched me deeply and I am filled with gratitude to Christ for using someone as Beth Moore to reach you and I. There are certain people God uses to communicate to certain ones in a way only they get and I have heard other speakers but only a very few make me walk away with a more desire to know and serve God more. Does that make any sense? LOL Anyway, the Patriarchs is one of my favorite studies by Ms. Beth and I am excited for you that you are going to be leading that study. Oh, and about tatoos... I agree and hear you siesta!
Donna

Gran Jan said...

Popcorn: I LOVED your post on the LPM site - and I wanted to let you know that you will love the studies. Beth is the real deal, and her goal is for women to get into the Word of God. I was blessed to be in the audience for the taping of "The Patriarchs" in May of 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a wonderful study - you will learn so much.

I have a quick question - please forgive me if I am S-L-O-W. Your blog site says you are only 35 years old, yet you have been married for 27+ years - how is that???

Blessings on you,
Georgia Jan

PS: LOVED THE POST ABOUT TATTOO's - my thoughts exactly!

Super Churchlady said...

Personally - I don't get the tatoo thing, but I've always assumed it was my age. I guess I'm old enough to realize that there are some things you do when you are young that you will regret - and I don't want my regrets to say "Momma" or "I love Gerry" or be a butterfly or rose or anything on the outside for everyone to see for the rest of my life.

Popcorn said...

donna c g: thanks for your sweet comment. I totally agree with you. Certain people reach other certain people, hence our wonderful membership in the body of Christ. Another one person that so so so speaks to me is Alistair Begg. Do you ever listen to him? Truth for Life is his website. He's a minister in Ohio. Since you and I so agree on Beth's style, I bet you'd love him as I do.

Georgia J: You're not slow...I married when I was 4. No, no really and truly 35 is a HUGE shrinkage (as oppose to stretching) of the truth...I'm really...well, I can't bring myself to say it, but you do the math... I married Mr. Popcorn when I was 21. There. The truth is out, as painful as it is to me..! :)Thanks for your sweet post. Beth did get me into the Word and each time I would sit to do the homework I just couldn't get enough of it. Looking so forward to the Patriarch study. Lucky you for being at the film sessions!!

confused said...

Okay, I am laffin here. I just read the other comments here & I, too, saw your post on LPM blog. I also did the math & am wondering where on earth you live to be able to have gotten married at age 8, LOL. Figuring you & Jack Benny must have a little something in common...you have heard of Jack Benny, the forever 39 year old?
I stumbled upon Beth the beginning of 2007. Actually, I was sort of introduced to her via an email forward a few months before that but when I got the same email from a different source, I passed it on with the disclaimer that I didn't know if it was true or not but there was a good lesson there. A few days later, my neighbor asked if I had heard of her. At first, I said no, then that nagging voice in my head said, yeah, you have & I recalled the emails. Anyway, the neighbor said she had intended to invite me over on Wed. night to watch Life Today because they had a segment called Weds. With Beth, but she was going to have to work that evening. I decided to watch it. My interest was now peaked. I found Beth so inspiring. I became a regular Weds. With Beth viewer. Mentioned all this to my daughter & she emailed me the LPM blog site info. Started reading that & became a Siesta. Own & have read several Beth books & have requested a Beth Moore study in my Sunday morning Bible class. She has helped me understand a lot about God & myself that I have struggled with for many years. I am still struggling in many areas.
I am glad you & I got on the Beth bandwagon because I think she is definitely a special person with a special family & team with God as their leader. Anyway Siesta, have a wonderful weekend. Be Blessed!!! Oh yeah, I found out the story in the email is true.

About tattoos. I do not get it at all. My daughter wanted one forever. Told her IF she EVER got one I would never speak to her again. When she was 18 she got a small tasteful rose tattoo on her ankle. She kept it hidden from me for quite a while. When I first saw it I was naive enough to think it was one of those rub on tattoos that were popular for a while. When I realized it wasn't I was heart broken. I cried & didn't talk to her...she was still living at home and this was very difficult...for about 3 weeks. Then "never" ended & I accepted the fact, but still was not happy. When she was away at college, she got a rather large one on the small of her back. I was REALLY not happy again. Fast forward & she started having laser treatments to remove them. This has been a very costly & painful experience for her & me. Don't know what it is that made her ever want to do it. *shiver*
Unfortunately, my current husband has a tattoo on his chest that he got when he was in the Navy...with the name of his then girlfriend. YUK, YUK, YUK. I don't notice it most of the time anymore. It is usually covered but when I do, I would like to take a knife and see if I could maybe cut it out...kidding.

Unknown said...

Hey..if I do the math right you are my age. ROFLOL! My dh and I have been married 23 years going on 24 years in October. We are not getting older, we are getting better... now where is my menopause supplement....?!? LOL

elizabeth said...

I want to get a tattoo.
:)
i will eventually.

elizabeth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Super Churchlady said...

Little Kernal - I implore you...don't get a tatoo, girl. You're too beautiful inside and out to do that. (OK - I'm acting like a mom here..but really....don't!) Someday (God willing) you will be somebody's momma, or the chairman of the board, or the 1st Lady, or...the President!!! You may not always want that tatoo. Heed the wisdom of the aged, my beautiful friend.

Popcorn said...

God love you SCL. I was too dumbstruck by lk's comment to comment.