I spent two days at Islands of Adventure in Orlando. I easily confess that I am a people watcher. I am fascinated by the stories they tell without speaking. Going to a theme park like that and watching the people is like reading book covers in a book store and seeing if you can guess some of what the contents might be.

Tattoos are worth mentioning. Tattoos were an indication of trashiness when I was young (I’m old now). It seems that the tattoo rage has connected with a large number and broad spectrum of our society. They are ubiquitous. (Cool word.)

Each tattoo is a story in itself. Then the story is added to by its location and size. Some have sleeves or cover large areas with story-panel type displays. Some have clusters of tattoos in the same area, and some have them randomly arrayed around their body. I had one person tell me they were going to add to their collection with a tattoo representing the theme park, or some part of it, as a remembrance of the vacation, stories on top of stories on top of life experience.

Clothing is another area of story telling. Dress goes from extremely modest to pornographic and everything in between. T-shirts are great because they all have a design or story, like a changeable tattoo, which expresses something the person found interesting, fun, or indicative of their mood. Tona and I wore minions — wonder what that says. I complimented a young man about his “Member of the anti-social, social club,” and he responded very socially warm and humorous. That complicated the story.

This blog could go on forever with the different images people show about themselves, and we haven’t even covered groups. I saw couples with the same colored hair and families with each person wearing a different color of glowing hair color. We humans broadcast, one way or another, who and what we are. Consciously or unconsciously we show others things about ourselves we want them to know.

You know where this leads. The question becomes, “What am I telling the world?” Here is the bigger question. Can people see Jesus in my life by the way I dress, the way I act, the things I say? I’m spending some time in prayer, asking the Lord about that. Maybe it is good to consider if you are sending a good clear message about yourself or if you could learn something about your inner feelings from the way you dress to the way you decorate yourself and the things you say.

There are many ways to learn. Reading books is great. Learning from others is great. Reading scripture should be number one. Praying and allowing Jesus to show you things should be an easy number two, tied powerfully to number one. 

All the things we see can teach us about Jesus. All the stories I saw in two days at the park were about people that Jesus genuinely loves and is working to rescue.  (Include Tona and me because we were part of that crowd.) None of them were rejects from His help and desire. 

Reading their stories, even just the hints, reminds that we worship a loving God who knows the intimate details of each of our stories. He is there and everywhere, paying attention to us. Today is a great day to learn more about His story.