CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

There is this feeling, this seemingly unquenchable thirst, that I frequently get and seem to have been getting a lot lately.

I usually get it after watching an anime or adventurous movie.

It's so bittersweet..I guess it kinda feels good, yet it makes me long for adventure and destiny that seems out of reach in this reality. It just kind of knaws away in my chest.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?

I'm not sure what it is, I think it might(at least sometimes) be what's called a holy dissatisfaction, a discontentment that pleases God. (ie, feeling discontent with how much you know God, how much you serve others, etc).

Whatever the case, I do believe God created it and put it in my heart to motivate me to reach out for my destiny. I believe there are good and bad spiritual forces waging war over human souls and that feeling motivates me to fight. To get involved with that ageless warfare, that warfare that reaches far beyond our own physical reality. To not waste away in an average and dull life.

What do you think? Do you get that feeling?

Yes indeed. I think all of us are motivated after watching/reading some awesome story where good overcomes evil in some sort of epic battle or quest.

Yeah, certain books/movies/video games/music give me that feeling... but it's important to distinguish between a human emotion and a God inspired moment. Atheists can be touched with the "bittersweet feeling" as often as Christians can. I'm not saying that that feeling in some cases may not necessarily stir a person's soul and cause them to look towards God, just that I don't consider the warm fuzzies to be... 'holy dissatisfaction.' I'm not a fan of evil force, good force stuff - skirts way too close to dualism for my tastes.

But on the plus side, I think there are things in life that give us all that feeling and become like our "special place," like a good book that you want to read again and again and always gives you the same feeling. It's a good inspiration to motivate us in our Christian walks at times.

hmm good point ussrgirl, but I think that just because athiests can be touched with it too doesn't necissarliy mean it isn't from God. This feeling helped C.S.Lewis become a Christian, if i'm not mistaken.

Yeh--I get that feeling too. I know what you're talking about, but I can't seem to describe it...your description seems logical to me. I get it from music too.

Whenever I'm watching a movie or anime (often a really well made amv) that makes me want to do something with my life, I will definetly feel this overwhelming feeling, almost a calling

....you wonder why the media and movies are so powerful....it's such a powerful tool...in the right hands, it can convince anyone of anything....and sometimes can have a lasting impact....let's hope and pray that God puts the right ppl into those positions....

I understand what you mean. I think one of the biggest things that does that to me is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I think humans all have this built in them. We all desire adventure or we all want to do somthing great (Even if it's only effecting your own life). It's up to you to take that feeling and do somthing good with it. LOTR is so inspiring to me for obvious reasons, which I don't have the time to explain now =)
Some anime (Especialy Blood+ even though I've only seen it a couple times) give me that feeling. It's like you want to just jump up and go do somthing great. Or somtimes you want to squee (lol see how incredibly poetic I am?? <-Sarcasm) Fullmetal Alchemist also does this to me.
But I do think God can use that to help you start things in life.

Yeh--I get that feeling too. I know what you're talking about, but I can't seem to describe it...your description seems logical to me. I get it from music too.

yeah I know its so hard to describe

....you wonder why the media and movies are so powerful....it's such a powerful tool...in the right hands, it can convince anyone of anything....and sometimes can have a lasting impact....let's hope and pray that God puts the right ppl into those positions....

very true. I'm very happy about the 'religous movie' trend that has been going around in Hollywood the past few years-producing movies like The Passion of the Christ and Facing the Giants-but I would really love to see the same trend catch on in the anime world. That would be so great!

I understand what you mean. I think one of the biggest things that does that to me is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I think humans all have this built in them. We all desire adventure or we all want to do somthing great (Even if it's only effecting your own life). It's up to you to take that feeling and do somthing good with it. LOTR is so inspiring to me for obvious reasons, which I don't have the time to explain now =)
Some anime (Especialy Blood+ even though I've only seen it a couple times) give me that feeling. It's like you want to just jump up and go do somthing great. Or somtimes you want to squee (lol see how incredibly poetic I am?? <-Sarcasm) Fullmetal Alchemist also does this to me.
But I do think God can use that to help you start things in life.

yeah if I remember correctly LOTR does that to me too(its been a while).

I feel it almost every day. Usually when I read a novel with character that go off on to make incredible discovery in their lives. It's so empowering...

That feeling of wanting to reach out and grow is currently flowing through me right now in fact. Although not from something I've read, but that a dream I've been praying for could potentially happen sooner then I think.

I get that a LOT, especially these past few months. In the past, it's actually frustrated me quite a bit, mostly because I was kind of fighting God over what it was actually supposed to lead to. But then, when I'm NOT, it's actually pretty cool. Like, a little Holy Spirit lightbulb switching on that makes me think "OOOOooooh, so THAT'S what you put me here for!"

At times I do not have the time or means to act upon these feelings. So I quietly set them aside, telling myself that I will come back to them some day when I am better, stronger, and wiser.

Or perhaps I feel I are unable to make a difference, the time and effort and knowledge and understanding required too great, and so the feelings die off slowly in a corner of my consciousness...

Living as agents of change for God in this world will often cost us, perhaps even dearly. We may go to places that make us uncomfortable, do things that make us uncomfortable in order to carry out the things that we believe God is calling us towards.

There may be nights and days when we have worked ourselves till we feel feverish, and still we must press on towards the goal we believe is worthy of attaining. There may be times when we are emotionally and mentally drained, and the thought of calling it quits have never seemed more desirable. There may be times when we even question the validity and experience of our initial zeal and feelings of being called.

But still we press on, because in the end, we will remain victorious. That's what I'd like to think.

Forgot to mention, music does this to me too, almost more often then movies or books (probably becuase I listen to music more then I watch or read)...

Usually it's really well done movie scores that do this to me, especially if it's composed by James Newton Howard (Batman Begins, Unbreakable, Lady in the Water, Blood Diamond, King Kong, etc)....it just takes my imagination on an incredible journey...

I don't know about urgency but if something really moves me I can get a bit emotional.

teen4truth wrote:hmm good point ussrgirl, but I think that just because athiests can be touched with it too doesn't necissarliy mean it isn't from God. This feeling helped C.S.Lewis become a Christian, if i'm not mistaken.

Yeah, that's true. All that is good comes from God, some things that touch the soul are reflections of the greater good which is God and we as Christian recognize. ^__^ I agree there.

Just thought your first post sounded kinda like the "burning in the bosom" thing that Mormon's use as proof that they're not UFO cultists. XD Ugh... not even going to go there. Sorry if I misunderstood your meaning.