Dream from the Father

This is a dream I had on November 21, 2010

The man had Xerox copies of all my tattoos on the table; each one zoomed in, concise and clear. He had a tender heart towards me like a father to his daughter and invited me to sit with him. In his hand was a giant magnifying glass and he was scouring over each one right in front of me. The flaws glaring. It made me uncomfortable, I was oblivious the permanent fixtures on my body were so obviously imperfect.

We talked for a while about why I had chosen each tattoo. He asked me, Would you like them to be touched up. I responded with the most truthful answer I could muster up, I would, but I have no money. He smiled silently yet sweetly  waiting for me to continue, wanting me to ask him if he would pay for it. I thought to myself how could I ever ask a complete stranger to throw down hundreds of dollars for me. So I proceeded to skirt around the question, I heard there were tattoo artists at IHOP that give discounts, do you know of any of them? Another smile from the man with kind eyes.

A young man walked up to the table and started looking at the Xerox papers over his shoulder. The man introduced him, This is Joe, I’ve mentored him for a while. He’s an artist. Turning to Joe, What do you think, Joe? Can you fix them for free? Joe looked at me, Yes, gladly.

Suddenly all three of us were outside in a parking lot. I was turning to leave and the older man turned to me, Would you? I didn’t understand what he was asking me. He said, Joe just asked if he could pursue you. He’s still going to fix your tattoos whether or not you say yes. There was a twinkle in his eye as he waited for me to respond to Joe’s question. I turned to Joe, Sure, I’d like that.

Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1 I have nothing, there isn’t a thing I could do to obtain the gift of being refined. The Father offered up His Son for my liberty. He set captivity captive by passing through death that I may live blameless. The seemingly permanent blemishes in my character can be fixed for free. To allow Jesus to romance me not because He demands it from me as prerequisite to life, but because He wants to. The Father sees everything wrong with me yet it doesn’t hinder Him from generously giving all that He has. My brokenness doesn’t scare Him away.