You May Never Know

I need to get blood tests often and typically get to have a quick chat with the technician. It usually doesn't amount to much more than "small talk". That's not always the case though.

My veins are sometimes a little troublesome and I get to be poked a few times. The only benefit is that it gives more time to talk. One one occasion, I noticed a small tattoo on the Tech's forearm. It was an Asian character, but I didn't know what it meant. So I asked.

"It's a symbol for 'love.'“ A quick short story followed. It turns out her brother had committed suicide so she got her artwork. She quickly followed up her initial comment to me with her statement that "there's so much help out there, no family should have to go through this. It leaves such a mess."

I think the tattoo is wonderful. It's not just a remembrance. It's not just art. It's an invitation to hear her story and hear her mission.

This all happened many weeks ago, but came to mind after reading a friend's blog. Her post left me questioning how many times we make assumptions based on a persons "look". How likely am I to reach a conclusion based on that "look" without knowing anything more than there's a huge arm sleeve tattoo, or there was a nose piercing, or they wore "vintage" clothes? The list goes on. What impressions am I making as I view that exterior? "They're probably homeless." "Bet they don't have a job." "Probably on drugs." And depending on your own perspective can you only see the woman in the business suit as one of the elite without knowing more than she was dressed in typical business attire?

More importantly, how often does that first impression prevent us from stopping to interact? Are we curious enough to comment on a tattoo; and learn a story of heart ache, loss and recovery? Can we get past the nose piercing and learn of the heart for service? Can we get past the business suit and learn she started 'from the bottom'?

I hope and pray the answer is yes. You'll never know what hides under the shell - until you ask.