Friends are so special to us all. One thing that I love about being a human being is relationships, as I’m more of an extrovert than introvert. In fact, during my life, I have had many friends come and go, from close ones to those that I didn’t get to know very well. Digimon Tri, the new series based on the famous, original Digimon series, has always focused on the Digidestined and their tight bond. Without working as a team, instead opting to work alone, they would have have quickly and clearly lost. This reminded me about how important our friends are, and how that dynamic changes as we grow up as is seen in the new series.
The original team, Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Koushiro, Mimi, Joe, T.K. and Kari, have been through many ups and downs. They had to get to know each other’s characteristics, likes and dislikes, fighting styles, and emotions. Every character is complex and unique, just like in real life, and balancing all of that is no easy task. Taichi and Yamato, both strong and fiery leaders, are often bumping heads because of disagreements on how to proceed during their adventures. One wants to be careful and look out for others, while the other wants to bash right into the enemy and take it out.
This has happened to me as well, when I want to make certain decisions while others want to analyze the situation more or hesitate. I’m the kind of person that likes to try new things and am not too afraid of the unknown, while others make up excuses and shy away. I have had to do things on my own at times because I cannot find someone who will try something new with me (usually, only my wife will do it). For example, it can be a new restaurant, museum, concert, or even an anime convention!
As I remember it, the Digidestined, as children, were just that: children. Now that I have grown up, as they have in the show, I can relate to how they want to keep the same bond they had while some of them have moved on or are going through changes in their lives. These include Mimi, who moved to America, Joe, who is hyper-focused on his studies and does not want to get involved in the new digital threats, or Taichi and Yamato, who still hold a grudge towards each other. Years go by, but memories or bad blood do not. This is what I believe keeps the best of friends together: those obstacles that they went through. It’s the connection that we get when pain is shared, like tears flowing on another’s shoulder or laughing at jokes. We are made stronger through our experiences, but even that doesn’t always keep our friends by our side. Life starts to happen, which can look like marriage, kids, college, moving away, or different interests and beliefs.
For me, I have made friends that are in other nations or even continents, so I have to keep up with them via social media because it can be hard to meet up. Other times, even as Christians, we believed different things or made decisions about certain aspects of life and that ended the relationship. I’ve learned that I could have handled some conversations better, but at the same time I am glad I stood my ground on others. My life would be much worse if I followed every opinion a friend gave, even though they are cherished to me.
Proverbs 18:24
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Growing up can be tricky, especially when you are going from high school to college (or getting a job, opening a business, or whatever you do after your academic years are complete). When that happens, shifts begin to happen that we weren’t aware of, and I remember thinking that nothing would separate me and my circle of friends. Here I am, though, and many of those same people I do not talk to anymore because life happened, and everyone has their own responsibilities now. Like Taichi and his group, each one has his or her own business, but they band together against a common threat. Making friends, and keeping them, is something I think everyone wants to do. While some of us are more friendly than others, or haven’t had the best of luck, trust in God to help you find the right people in your life. You might even find some over at our Discord Community, or perhaps someone you’ve forgotten to connect with in a long while.
Life is so much more fun with others to share it with.
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I can say with confidence that meeting all of the folks at the BTT Discord community has changed my circle of online friends. Everyone there is very nice, loves to talk with each other about anime, and pursue Godliness together. It is such a great time and it does remind me of the original group from Digimon, how we slowly foster our relationships and grow closer together.
Thanks a lot man. Yes, I can see that too in the Discord community. Its young, but lets see what God does with it 🙂
Wow. I can honestly say that I didn’t expect this to hit me this hard. But it’s so true. My eyes are welling up just thinking about some of the friends I’ve made and lost over the years. Some of them I thought I’d never lose. But I guess that’s all part of the flowing nature of relationships, isn’t it? Redeeming the time you have with them while you have it.
Hey there Sam glad you enjoyed the article! Yes, so true. I myself have cried from missing those good ol days when I would just hang out with my friends, when now its nore about “adulting” as I have seen it coined. Personally, I love my life, but theres nothing like when you can just go to a movie, ice cream shop, etc all day Saturday
Hey there Sam glad you enjoyed the article! Yes, so true. I myself have cried from missing those good ol days when I would just hang out with my friends, when now its nore about “adulting” as I have seen it coined. Personally, I love my life, but theres nothing like when you can just go to a movie, ice cream shop, etc all day friday
Spend all the time you can, and when things change, be grateful for the time you had together and thank God for social media haha.