Symbolism

I learned a lot of things today about Christian symbolism. I was researching the tattoo process. I've talked with people who have tattoos, and am now doing my own investigations trying to prepare my mind and body for my up coming artwork. I like to be well versed in any of my forever endeavors, in anything that will permanently affect me. Sometimes I am not, and I just rush into something without fully thinking through all the possible outcomes, and every time I have done that it has ended horribly for me. So I really try to think about all avenues of something before I fully commit myself to it. Well I have thought about all avenues of this tattoo business, and it is something I really want and am going to go for it one hundred percent. There is nothing holding me back, and my first tattoo will definitely not hinder anything for me. The pain is a slight issue, but I have come to understand that the pain is a right of passage when becoming an inked individual. That is what I have done the most research on is the pain. I've read many accounts where the needle and bleeding is not visible to the person getting tatted, and that is much better for a first tattoo. I will be able to see neither so I think I'll be okay in that department. As sick as this is going to sound, I'm actually kind of looking forward to the pain now. I want to see what it's like and be able to have my own ink stories. When I think about it I get little butterflies in my stomach. Not the woozy kind I get from the thought of giving blood, but the excited kind I get like when I am sitting in a plane that is about to take off or right before a roller coaster makes that first plunge. I think I may be becoming masochistic, in which case I'll probably eventually seek some sort of help, or it could just be that I am intensely excited to do this process which I find very worth my while.
So now to the symbolism part of this blog. While researching I came across a page that discussed the meaning behind different symbols used by Christianity. Discussed, of course, were the many variations of the cross, different types of stars, different furnishings in the church, and many other kind of obscure symbols all of which are very appropriate though once the reasoning as to why it was a symbol was given. One such symbol was that of the yoke. Any teenager who has attended quite a bit of youth group will have heard the verse I am about to quote. It is always used in a pastors lesson on dating. ''Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?'' - 2 Corinthians 6:14-1. The meaning is quite simple. Don't date someone outside of your faith or who has contrasting beliefs to your own. So I never had thought about what a yoke was. But today I learned. A yoke is the piece of equipment that binds oxen [plural of ox, in this case two oxen] while they pull heavy loads. The ox always works in pairs. What this means... well this verse had more meaning to it than I had originally ever thought! It refers to the pairing of two Christians who come together in a relationship. That relationship is supposed to be one where both people are working together to edify our Lord. If a christian is yoked with a non-believer, in this case that can be anyone not of the Christian faith, then the relationship just is incapable of edifying the Lord. I always knew this, but when applied with the symbolism it makes this verse very, very powerful. I can now say that I fully get it. I don't desire to be unequally yoked in my relationships, Christ is the first thing I seek, and if Christ isn't fully there, then I pray that it may fall to the wayside.
Now this isn't to say that this will go for all my relationships, because it won't. It only applies to romantic and intimate ones. As a christian it is my job to meet people where they are and love them just as God loved me in my rebellion.
O K God, lesson learned!!!! What's next on the agenda? [P.S. this sounds like the final line in a Vacation Bible School production.]