Full Moon upon the Water: My Tattoo

I got the idea for my tattoo from The Tao of the Jump Shot by John Fitzsimmons Mahony and Bill Walton. Their chapter The Moon in the Water had an image of the Chinese characters for moon and water. I had always wanted to get a tattoo and had been looking for something to go on both sides of my ankle. It was perfect and the meaning was good too. The chapter focused on being in a state of readiness in life and while playing basketball. When the moon appears in the sky the water reflects it instantly just as it is. Over time I felt the meaning was to see life as it is not how you want it to be.

After I got the tattoo I found the following poem.

Each night, I gaze upon a pond,
A Zen body sitting beside a moon.
Nothing is really there, and yet
It is all so clear and bright.
I cannot describe it.
If you would know the empty mind,
Your own mind must be as clear and bright
As this full moon upon the water.

--Chiao Jan

It kind of says the same thing, but has more depth to it in a very Buddhist kind of way.

I was twenty-seven when I got my tattoo. At thirty-two I became a Christian. Even though I had changed my entire philosophy on life I never regretted (and still do not) having my tattoo. It serves as a reminder to me and an illustration to others of where I came from and how I got to where I am with Jesus. It has opened many doors to have conversations about God with people.

While reading the poem above the other day I realized it has a similar feel to my favorite verse in the bible.

Be still, and know that I am God.
--Psalm 46:10

I believe all truth is God’s truth. That does not mean that there can be no truth outside of Christianity. I bow to your Buddha nature my fellow travelers. May God bless you and keep you.

The Church of Death

I attend Red River Church on 45th and Red River in Austin, TX. We have four elders Keith Atkinson, Wayne Brown, Jeff Bennighof and Wes Birdwell. Keith is the only one of the four that leads the church for a living. So in a way he is the leader of the church and the pastor.

When I met him he was married to a wonderful lady named Renee. Renee was literally a force for God. To our great loss she died from cancer a little over a year ago.

Keith has since found another wonderful lady named Melinda and is set to marry her on October 3rd. Too early? No, and let me tell you why.

This morning while meeting with Keith for our bible study I had a vision of what it would be like at our church if Keith did not re-marry. We would become the Church of Death. I saw a big black disgusting thing hanging over our church keeping us from being about life as God intend. God is of life not of death. So thanks be to Jesus that He has done this good work in Keith’s life and prepared him to marry a truly beautiful creation of God and bring life to our church.

Chipped Mug

There is a set of white porcelain coffee mugs at the office. I like to use the chipped one. I think it has more character than the rest.