Anime Lectio: Flower and Asura

                                                           1. Why do Anime Lectio? 

Anime Lectio is a time for us to stop and take a breath. Between work, activities, family life, and social media, our minds are always moving. We rarely take time to contemplate and ask, why am I watching this anime? What’s the point of all this? And, how is this making me feel? 

2. Put away all distractions 

(phones, work, etc.)

We are so enslaved to things that stimulate our minds. Let this be a moment for us to free our minds, look inside of ourselves, and be at peace.

3. Deep Breathing

Take several deep breaths. Let your mind relax. If you’ve had any questions, desires, or struggles that you’ve been hiding or stuffing away, let them rise up to the surface. 

4. Open yourself to God’s Presence

Remember God places all our thoughts and desires inside of us, and He uses them to draw us closer to Himself. God gives us a community to help us understand who we are and what He is calling us to do. The faces of other people you know and don't know are like signs of God’s presence.  

5. Think About What’s on Your Mind in Relation to the Anime

Think about what’s been on your mind in relation to the anime.  The following is an example of such thoughts written by me. 

Doing what you like to do doesn't have to be competitive, but if you end up doing what you like to do with others, instead of just doing what you like to do by yourself for others, then competition can happen.  An example of this can be seen in the series Flower and Asura.

6. Brief and written explanation of the anime

Pay attention to how the brief and written explanation of the anime seen on this blog, or seeing the anime for yourself since that's better than any explanation, might “speak” to you or shed light on the things that have been on your minds.

A girl who lives on an island uses her interest in recitation to read stories to the kids on the island.  One day, another girl from the school that the girl on the island goes to tries to recruit her for the school's broadcasting club so the girl on the island can help the club.  After realizing that she can both help the club and still read to the kids on the island, the girl who lives on an island learns more about the club she was recruited for, including what the club does and the other people in the club.  The club is in charge of announcements for the school, which the girl who lives on an island learns to do with the help of other people in the club.  They also do other things together, like train for a competition, and in the process, they learn about each, as well as themselves.

7.  Reflect on the anime

Has this brief and written explanation of the anime shed any light on what's been on your minds?  The following is an example of a reflection on the anime from me.

What helps when competing against others, either with others or on your own as a member of a team, is continuing doing something that you like to do for yourself. Even if what you like to do helps others, what's really important about that is that you do it for yourself. Helping others is important, but helping yourself is more important as it helps you be more helpful to others.

8. Final Prayer

Please voice any prayer intentions for friends, family, or people around the world that relate to this anime.  The following is an example written by me.

Let us pray that we can help ourselves in order to be more helpful to others.