When I was a kid, I remember attending an event called Hell House. It was a walk-through experience designed as an alternative to haunted houses during Halloween. The actors portrayed various real-life characters, and as crowds moved through, they encountered staged scenes illustrating the potential consequences of choosing a path of darkness.

I don’t recall the specific scenes displayed in the rooms, but one image remains vivid in my mind: a tall, wiry man covered from head to toe in tattoos. He was part of the crowd shuffling through the hallways and stood out like a tree among shrubs.

I found myself wondering, “How can this guy be a Christian with so many tattoos on his body?” My youthful mind struggled to reconcile how someone who looked like that could genuinely embody Christian values. I internalized my judgments, filing them away for future reflection.

Fast forward to today, and I still have thoughts and opinions about tattoos. However, I no longer judge people based on having them. Instead, I find tattoos to be intriguing displays of art, often holding deeply personal stories. In fact, my fascination with tattoos has grown so much that I contemplated getting one for the past couple of years and ultimately decided to ink up earlier this month 😉.

My decision was not made lightly—after all, tattoos are permanent! I wanted a design that was meaningful, something I could explain with purpose when asked about it. After much contemplation, I finally settled on a design: a tree. You might be thinking, “A tree is boring,” but this isn’t just any tree. It’s the tree referenced in Psalm 1:1-3:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree, planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

I have reflected on my life, on all its ups and downs—through it all, God has kept me safe! Not only that, He has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. Of course, that doesn’t mean everything is always perfect, but I am reminded that my life is hidden in Christ. That realization always brings me back to a place of peace.

My tree tattoo is an abstract continuous line drawing. The lines represent the various directions my life has taken, and the overall image forms a tree. The background colors are custom shades of green, orange, and pink, meant to express the fruitfulness and lushness sustained by Christ as the Life Source.

The blue squiggle at the base of the trunk symbolizes the stream of water that continuously nourishes the tree. No matter what, a person who places their faith in Christ will prosper, flourish, be nurtured, and be well cared for. I can think of no better expression of my life journey.

I must give credit where it’s due! My tattoo artist, Barnabas Henderson of The Henderson Collective, was a pleasure to work with. The studio is clean and well-maintained. Barnabas is a true artist, attentive to my ideas, and he beautifully matched the background colors to complement my skin tone and the abstract vibe of the design. I highly recommend him!

Thinking back to that tall tattooed guy, he would have no idea that I remember him all these years later. It’s fascinating that his image has stuck with me. Wherever he is and whatever he is doing, I hope he’s still like a tree—specifically, like a Psalm 1 tree!