Perhaps it’s the romantic in me—or rather the romantic that the ever-present buzzing of cicadas in summer-themed anime made me to be—but summer evokes nostalgia in my heart and thoughts of sometimes whimsical and sometimes epic adventures. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is at times full of both whimsy and danger as it traces the titular elf’s journey toward a destination that’s connected to her past, while she recalls the party members who helped her mature into a leader herself. Joining her on her new adventure are the young warrior Stark, her mage protege, Fern, and the somewhat older priest, Sein, who rounds out the party in the way we viewers would expect.
Except that it’s only a few episodes later that Sein bids them farewell! Having found a lead on the whereabouts of his friend, Gorilla, he chooses to travel that path instead of continuing with his new party.
Wait a minute…this doesn’t seem right? Sein received the whole “new major character” treatment, with a full arc where he grows past a hurt that had paralyzed him through the help of the other main characters, and then agreed to become part of the group. How is it that he’s leaving so soon? As surprising as the departure is, it’s quite in character for this series. A major theme of Frieren is that our time with our loved ones is short, but the impact we have can last a lifetime, and indeed, into eternity.
Here’s what Sein’s brief sojourn with the party shows us:
Our meetings are not a mistake, even when they don’t lead where we expect them to.
We might be tempted to think that Sein made a mistake: He shouldn’t have gone with Frieren’s party in the first place—leaving behind his village and the life he knew—if he was going to break away in a matter of weeks. However, the series conveys a sense that this was meant to happen. Sein was a talented priest stuck in a depressed, dead-end situation, but Frieren’s influence led him to evaluate his life and decide on a path forward. Frieren’s journey crossed his own, and it was life-changing for Sein.
Similarly, scripture shows us so many examples of divine appointments, from Philip’s meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch to Jesus’ meetings with, well, everyone! None of these folks lived out their days together; their paths only crossed briefly. But the impact of these brief moments together was transformative and eternal. There is a reason why you cross paths with others—the trick is to consider why, and then to make it count.
Let’s make the most of our time together.
Frieren’s party has a major impact on Sein, but he too leaves a mark on the others in a way that can’t be understated. He serves as an older-brother figure for the young Stark, giving him advice on multiple occasions and helping to mend his relationship with Fern when the two have a major disagreement. He also gives wisdom to Fern on multiple occasions, with Frieren hinting that the young mage sees her adopted father, Heiter, in him. It’s all pretty breathtaking, to be honest; previously, Sein was too afraid to move forward and invest in anything worthwhile.
But once he makes the decision to join the party, Sein’s inhibitions go away. He no longer focuses on protecting himself but becomes vulnerable. He could get hurt as he had in the past, but Sein has made the decision to invest in his new party. He is there for who knows how long, but for whatever time they’re joined together, he will love them. Their time with one another is important, no matter the length! And though opening our hearts can be a scary proposition, we can also be confident that God will walk with us—even in hardship and disappointment—through the relationships he’s entrusted us with.
We never know what’s coming around the bend.
My belief is that Sein will be back. Gorilla is likely dead by now, but Sein needs to confirm that for himself. After finishing his quest, where will he go except back to the party he has committed to? Likewise, our journeys with others don’t always end with complete finality. We may cross paths once again, becoming important in each other’s lives in unanticipated ways. Or I could be wrong about Sein; he may not come up in the story again. But as for us, we know that our stories extend beyond our time on Earth; in the walk of faith, no goodbye is ever final. Even in painful relationships, we know that one day we’ll be together in a place where misunderstandings will be cleared up, tears wiped away, and joy will reign.
It’s captivating to me that such a temporary fellowship—mere weeks within Frieren’s party and but a mere moment for the long-lived elf—could be so character-defining for Sein and the whole group alike. I’m moved by the mighty way that God can similarly work in our relationships. Human limitations like time are not limiting to the Father. As we follow Him like Jesus did, in the paths on which He’s leading us, and as we’re directed by prayer and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we’ll see God do wonderful work in and through our time spent with others beyond what we can even imagine. Beyond what we can do ourselves.
And ultimately, isn’t that what’s so magical about these paths we walk with friends? For the short or long term, by convenience or choice, God is always working for our best. We only need to recognize it and join him on the journey.
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