Two days ago I had the wonderful privilege of officiating a wedding for some good friends of mine from Iowa in Zion National Park located in Southern Utah.
Zion National Park is beyond spectacular as it attracts the third most visitors of all the National Parks.
Before I left Zion yesterday, I stopped by the gift shop at the Park entrance and picked up a couple of items. At the cash register I had the distinct joy of meeting… Monica!
She was all “tatted” up. Even though she had on a crew neck long sleeved shirt, her tattoos oozed out everywhere… Some sort of flowery vine serpentined around her neck. Ink was present on all ten digits on her hands.
As I am wont to do when I meet people with tattoos, I always inquire about the stories behind the tattoos. Body art always has a story to tell and most of the time such tales are revealing and fascinating.
Standing at the register didn’t afford me much time, but I did offer, “Tell me about your tattoos on your hand…” (See accompanying photo!)
Monica’s face lit up and she beamed as she said, “Well, I have a traditional Native American teepee…” That’s as far as she got before I interjected, “Tell me about the LOVE written on each finger.” Monica enthusiastically moved on to the subject of love.
My mind was racing as I saw the number 13.
“Tell me about the number 13.”
Her answer was quick and direct – “Oh… that’s my favorite number.”
I placed two fingers on her two fingers inked with the numbers 1 and 3 and looked into her eyes and made one more inquiry…
“Do you know where LOVE is talked about the most in the Bible?”
Her eyes narrowed, her brows furrowed, there was a pause in the air, and time came to a standstill there in the Book Store and then she uttered, “No…”
I couldn’t help but offer a big smile and a twinkle in my eyes as I patted her two fingers with mine and said, “First Corinthians, Chapter… (insert pregnant pause)… Thirteen!”
I laughed out loud.
She smiled out loud.
Monica replied, “No way…”
“Way, Monica!”
“I am going to have to check up on that and make sure you’re telling me the truth”, she countered.
I pulled up the Bible app on my phone and let her read 1 Corinthians 13 for herself. Oh the look on her face was priceless!
I began to walk away and we both laughed in spite of ourselves!
I think I smiled the whole way on the three hour drive home…
The timing could not have been orchestrated better by God…
What the world needs now, is Love, Monica!
⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never ends…
¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Love always!
Grace and peace,
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
www.daviddendy.com