i read this guys blog, and he had an idea for people to send in pictures of their tattoos with the story behind the ink. so i figured i’d play along, and sent in a picture of my hope/haiti tattoo. there’s alot of people that ask me what that means…so i thought i’d share a bit.
i read the spiritual biography of Johnny Cash. It’s called The Man Comes Around (if you haven’t read this…you should). i loved Johnny’s story because he was a real, transparent, guy that didn’t wear his halo too tight. a sinner & a saint…a disciple that lived a rough life. he told a story of two dogs that he owned. one was all black with a white stripe, and the other was all white with a black stripe. the black one he named Sin, and the white one he named Redemption. He said he named the black one Sin…because while we are born sinners there is still hope for redemption(white stripe). He named the white one redemption…because while we are redeemed there is still a chance for sinning(black stipe). i thought to myself…wow…that is my life. so i set out to design two rectangle tattoos for my forearms. a black one with white stripe, and a white one with black stripe…however once i designed it…it never looked right on my arm. so i didn’t get it done.
august 2006: i got the awesome opportunity to meet 2 of my sponsored kids in haiti. it was a remarkable trip that has forever changed my life & outlook towards missions & a hurt & dying world that exists outside of Americas safe borders. there is a haitian proverb that says…’once you have been to haiti…your heart will be broken…and you never leave with all of the pieces.’ a piece of my heart & soul was taken from me when i left there. the smiles of daniel & andrise will forever be burned into my memories. i will spend my last days on this earth being a voice for haiti & all of the less fortunate people in this world as a result of that trip. it forever changed my life. i had a vision for hope..hope/haiti.
nov 2007: i was in a church service and the pastor was completely boring. i couldn’t pay attention to his rambling…so i decided to draw in my journal. and the result of my drawing is my hope haiti tattoo. it is a combination of my love & hope for haiti…and my realization that in sin there is hope for redemption…and in redemption there is still a chance for sin. thanks to the prophet that is also known as The Man in Black…Mr. Johnny Cash. Here is a pic of HOPE/HAITI.
I know that chick!
..or her husband at least.
cool story and cool tatoo
daley – who don’t you know? haha…rockstar
dreamingBIGdreams – thanks
dude, diggin the tat. i like the idea. must have been something to go there and just leave a piece of your heart. but now you got a reminder everyday. pretty sweet.
god bless.
bryan
Thank you for this! I love hearing tattoo stories!
Hey man, great story. Every cool tattoo story should start with Johnny Cash…there is no way to go wrong.
And Daley, seriously…how does a 23 year old dude know that many people. I bet I could be in an Inuit igloo in Northern Alaska and the family would say…”Daley? yes, we know Daley, he’s coming back here to shoot the neighbors next month.”
bryan – thanks for reading and the comment man. yeah it was an awesome trip. those kids really took a piece of me. my wife & i will hopefully be adopting from there in the future. i could even see myself living there or africa one day…ha…who knows. blessings man.
brandon – you’re welcom
adam – no way wrong with JC…haha…that’s for sure. as for daley…no kidding. i love that guy. he’s 110& rock n roll
I absolutely LOVE your ink and admire the size of your heart. We are in the process of adopting from Haiti and have been 4 times. It is truly a life altering trip and it has altered my life in a different way each time I have taken it. Thank you for what you have done for Haiti and for the children there. We’re only particles of change orbiting around the sun…..
Cheers!
Paige
http://www.midrine.blogspot.com
I love hearing the stories behind tattoos. Thanks for sharing this one.
paige – particles of change…i love that. thanks for sharing a bit of your story. keep us posted on the adoption.
nancy – you’re welcome.
what’s hilarious is i just stumbled across your blog, and i know daley.
i love the tat, and the story behind it!
I love the story about the tattoo and wish your family great success in what you do. I am Haitian, and for some time have been trying to find ways of giving back to my people for some time. I honestly, don’t know how I got to this site but I do know that your tattoo should be worn and seen by others so that we don’t ever get erased in the minds of our neighbors. So I ask you can I use what you created (hope/haiti) and get it tattooed on myself so that many more can see?