Scars are tattoos with Better Stories

Devotional

 

Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover" 

 

Hmmm—I think if I would have lived contemporaneously with ole Sam Clemons, I would have, without a doubt, been deliriously attracted to the quick-witted author and humorist. Of course, we would have gone rounds with his early ideas about women and religion, but I certainly would have admired his adventurous spirit! 

 

I am at this moment in my office covered with black and blue marks, scrapes, and a couple of scratches, and let me tell you, I enjoyed getting every one of them! Just a few days ago I had the opportunity to cut away from the safe shore lines with six people I didn't know to explore the Ocoee! Now, I have braved some white water before, but let me tell you, the class IV rapids of this river made every other raft trip I've taken seem like a rubber-ducky soak in the bath tub! I was sucked under the raft twice and lost both shoes as our guide (who I liked to call "River Dude") taught us how to surf upon the haystacks and hydraulics! Lord, it was fun, and I've scored a couple of free passes so I can do it all over again! 

 

Now I have to admit, that when I first looked down into the swirling current of that river, I was just a wee bit intimidated, especially when our guide began to explain all of the things that "could" happen to us if we did get pulled into the waves. I will even admit that I prayed that God would not let me fall in. Now, let me assure you that my prayer had nothing to do with me not wanting to get my hair wet—I just really wasn't too keen on the idea of having "River Dude" give me mouth to mouth—and I didn't want to get my body bruised, scarred, and scrapped on the Ocoee rocks. Drowning wasn't really on my agenda for the day either. After all, I had plans to do a little shopping.

 

As you already know—my prayer was not answered—I did fall in, not once but twice—and I did get bruised and battered and scarred. You know, sometimes in our walk with the Lord—or even in everyday life, we try to sit cuddled up safely on the shorelines. We are afraid of getting in over our heads. We are terrified of allowing ourselves to be totally immersed in the will of the Lord or in giving ourselves to others because we fear where the surrender may take us. We cower away from the thrill of the ride because we contemplate all of the "what ifs and "maybes," and we shiver at the idea of getting a little bruised, bumped up and battered. Now just sometimes, God has to allow us to get "sucked in" way over our heads—not because He doesn't love us, but because He does not wantu s to be deprived of all of the ecstasy and freedom that comes from "getting in and letting it all go."   Sure, we experience the scratches and scrapes in the process, but you know, I think I'd rather endure the risks of getting in the river than the boredom and sitting on the banks. 

 

Right after I finished my river adventure, I went into the rafting company's gift shop. I saw a tee-shirt there that read "Scars are tattoos with better stories." I thought to myself, "Hmmm, I wonder what kind of stories my life scars could tell? I wonder what kind of deliverance those stories could bring to someone else? You know, Jesus had scars from immersing himself in His Father's will and from loving others—but wow—what a story!

Reviews

[Eagle Cruagh]

I read all your reviews and none of them contained the best line.
What are you chasing ? What do you hope to accomplish by
being beaten and scarred for life ?
I am 100% for leading a free and unemcumbered life, but nearly
being killed in the name of free sounds nuts to me.
Think about it !
-----Eagle Cruagh

[RHEA CROSLEY]

I like your style , clarity and directness with kindness interspersed. This is a fun inspirational write. I lived for two months on a sail boat in the Virgin Islands when I was a kid. Have done rock climbing and lived underwater on a Nuclear Submarine. I always wanted to sail the world in a fifty foot Columbian sail boat rigged with spy equipment. So I appreciate your adventures spirit. Thanks for the encouraging write.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

There was a very very nice lesson conveyed here. I noticed a couple of spots that I think might have small errors. In ...

"Now, let me assure you that my prayer had nothing to do with me not wanting to get my hair wet-I just really wasn't too keen on the idea of having "River Dude" give me mouth to mouth-and I didn't want to bruised, scarred, and scrapped on the Ocoee rocks."

"... want to what bruised, scarred and scrapped ..."

and in ...

"... but because He does wants us to be deprived of all of the ecstasy and freedom that comes from ..."

Is it possible that "does wants" should be "doesn't want" ??

[A LaDy NaMeD D]

This is good and sooo true. I love the Mark Twain quote and your story relates to it. Some people for some reason have a hard time relation quotes to their stories. The message is obvious and it's a bonus that this has a little bit of humor to it.

[Garrett Cook]

Good stuff, but I think it should be drawn out more.

[Phill Oz O'fee]

Amen my friend! Great story - with both humour and charm. Funny how life lessens teach us more about who we are, then any academic tutoring we've ever received.

Glad I stumbled across your page.

Phill(ozofee)