No Need To Stay Down, Uramichi Oniisan!
Rise Up!
Happy Friday, my fellow anime lovers!
Have you all had a great week? Mine has been up and down. You see, recently, being an adult has not been as much fun for me as I would like and I’ll bet some of you have been there too. Between bills, work, and house responsibilities, day-to-day life can feel dreary. And in that weight and gloominess, God is the answer.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 28:28-30 (ESV)
In the comedy anime Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan, young adults who make up the cast of a children’s show find themselves weary of everyday life. Part of the show’s humor is in how it portrays relatable struggles like failing in a career, being without a relationship, and generally being dissatisfied with your life. In one of the episodes, the main character, Uramichi, is approached by two women who ask him if he “knows God” and he gives a dismal response.
While only a brief moment in the show, it speaks to the very heart of the matter. There is an emptiness in our hearts that most try to fill with careers, relationships, and other goals. We may feel happiness if we gain these things, but it’s not a permanent kind; and if we don’t, we feel like failures for not meeting these goals that won’t bring us the happiness we’re pursuing anyway. While career success and relationships can be awesome and godly things, a deeper satisfaction comes from pursuing God above all. As the Beatitude says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).
It’s no wonder that Uramichi is always so down in the dumps; he’s pursuing that which doesn’t give life, while ignoring the giver of life himself. And while depression and disappointment will accompany us in this broken world, we can yet rejoice and find our strength in knowing that as children of God, we share in his righteousness. We “shall be satisfied.”
Weekly Mission: Think about something that brings you down or that you’ve been frustrated with. Next, think of the times God has seen you through similar or equivalent circumstances. Finally, pray, thanking Him for how He has supported you through past struggles and asking for him to remove any disappointment, worry, or sadness during this current one.
Memory Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
BtT in Review
Our winter first impression pieces are complete! Read snippets of all our thoughts, see screencaps, and find streaming links on our master post.
And if you missed them, remember that we have full reviews of the premieres, including of the most recent releases like The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World, season two of The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really REALLY Love You!, I Left my A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths!, Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!, and Sakamoto Days.
Mike mines My Hero Academia—All Might and Sir Nighteye’s relationship in particular—this week as he explains how Christians should deal with disagreement. Here’s a snippet:
We encourage you to listen to the full episode and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, including on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other platforms.
Mike’s Anime Trivia question this week is, “In the anime Cowboy Bebop, what kind of dog is Ein?” Let us know your answer on Twitter or Instagram!
Another cold front is coming in…but as our video guy Luke, notes—you kind of already feel frozen after watching some anime:
On this week’s Reader’s Corner, we review two highly-anticipated premieres—the first volumes of Mono, the newest work from the mangaka behind Laid-back Camp, and bloody historical romance, Firefly Wedding, plus so much more!
Imagine you’re a cadet about to enter the Survey Corps and your phone battery % is the character leading you into titan battle. How doomed are you? Let us know on Instagram!
Finally, on Fanart Friday last week we posted the lovely illustration of Power (and Meowy, too!) just in time for all the hubbub surrounding the Chainsaw Man movie’s latest trailer, and a super cool crossover of Dandadan and Mob Psycho 100!
Have a wonderful weekend, friends, and God bless!