Facing Setbacks in Amagi Brilliant Park (and Life)
The righteous rise seven times
Happy Friday, my fellow anime lovers!
Did you all have an amazing week? Or did you encounter some challenges along the way? One of my favorite things to do—especially after facing a setback—is to unwind by rewatching my favorite shows. It was during one of these rewatches that I stumbled into the topic of dealing with setbacks. Never did I think that an anime would humble me on this topic, yet I was encouraged after finishing Amagi Brilliant Park. Before we continue, let’s look at today’s Bible verse, which comes from the book of wisdom:
Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
- Proverbs 24:15-16
That proverb is well illustrated in Amagi Brilliant Park, which follows the three-month journey of high school student Seiya Kanie, who takes over a management position at the titular, run-down amusement park, also known as Amabri. His aim is to attract enough guests to meet a quota for the park to stay open. Upon reviewing the initial state of Amabri, Seiya deems the chances of success as slim to none.
Not long into the show, his secretary and classmate, Isuzu Sento, laments her frustrations as she was the acting manager before Kanie’s arrival. She shares her heart with Kanie about her disappointment in having failed the park. To Sento’s surprise, her supervisor gives a much-needed pep talk by stating that problems we face are setbacks but at the end of the day that is all they are.
Though brief, Kanie makes his point loud and clear. Challenges befall people daily, but they often aren’t as big as we think. As Christians, we know this to be doubly true; with God looking out for us, we have the strength to get up those “seven times” and not fall when times get tough. He is our strength, lifting us from falls and over obstacles. And when the challenges are too much, we can be assured that He is walking through them with us.
Weekly Mission: I encourage you to build up bravery through your setbacks. Take time to pray for a boost of courage and pray the same for others facing turbulent times.
Memory Verse: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV)
Next week in Above Anime
Big news, newsletter subscribers! Typically on our fourth week of the month, Twwk gives some thoughts on whatever has been on his mind in anime and ministry, but we have a treat for you—you all will have the chance to vote on the play-in matches for AniMarch Madness, our annual anime tournament!
Instead of a Friday newsletter, you’ll get one on Tuesday featuring several matches to determine our final few competitors for the March tournament. Only Above Anime subscribers and Patreon givers will be able to vote in these exclusive matches—a little thank you to you all for reading along with us each week!
See you on Tuesday! Oh, and the actual matches themselves next month will be exclusive, too—to our Discord community and Facebook group!
BtT in Review
The Ultimate Exister brings us peace and love for life? No doubt! Claire looks at how Natsuko’s animated character does so in Zenshu and how it applies to us.
New volumes of The Eminence in Shadow and Ako and Bambi, as well as the opening volume of the violent and breathtaking Mujina Into the Deep are among the manga we covered on this week’s Reader’s Corner!
Have a great weekend, friends, and see you again next Tuesday for the play-in matches!