The Importance of Community

Ever wonder why we rewatch some of our favourite movies or reread some of our favourite books? The places never change, the characters are still the same, and to top it off you already know what is going to happen. So why? Well, often when we revisit these movies, shows, books, etc. it is not what is before us that is changing, it is us that is changing. What I mean is that the reason that we enjoy these things when we revisit them is because we ourselves have grown a little more since the last time we saw it; life has done its wonders and bestowed us with a new set of "eyes". In other words, the way we see things is now different (the plain and simple way of saying it without all the fancy words and stuff).

Why is this important? Well personally, I believe that in order for entertainment (movies, video games, etc.) to not be considered a waste of time it has to be purposeful: it makes you think critically, you learn something new, you apply lessons you've learnt, etc. How can you make reliving a piece of literature meaningful? You have to look at it differently. You have to look at it intently. You have to look at it with the firm determination of seeing something that is there, that you didn't see before. Stories are beautiful because they are an expression of humanity. But what we sometimes forget is that stories are also made beautiful by the depth and richness of quality that they contain. If something is worth revisiting, it is worth looking at in a different way.

So now that I have set the table, I would like to share with you my experiences of a show that I am rewatching: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. FMAB is my favourite anime and I usually do an annual rewatch of this anime since like 2011 (you must be asking whether or not I must've absorbed everything there is to know in this show, the answer is, surprisingly, no I have not). Now I just started my rewatch of this show, and at the time of writing this post am only 3 episodes in (it's 64 episodes in total), but other than totally breaking down 7 minutes into the first episode because Hughes showed up (fans of the show will relate to my emotional break down), I already have found something that I didn't see before.

Queue the emotional breaking down

You see, this show is about two brothers who live in a world where alchemy is predominant. Alchemy in this world allows one to use energy as a means to transform/rearrange something on a chemical level. The main law that must be obeyed is that of equivalent exchange; to obtain something, something of equal value must be given. This allows an alchemist to transform various objects into something radically different and to use it for a different use.

Ed transmuted a spear from the ground

At the very young age of 12, these two brothers stumble into their father's study and learn how to do alchemy. In the same year when they made this great advancement, an epidemic hit their town and their mother passed away. Struck by grief these boys make the decision to use their new found alchemy to commit the greatest alchemic taboo: to resurrect the dead. Ultimately, when they attempt to do so, it doesn't work (surprise surprise). But just from having attempted this, these brothers fall victim to the law of equivalent exchange, the younger brother Alphonse (lol I share a name with him) loses his whole physical body, and the older brother Edward loses his left leg. Determined not to lose his brother forever, Ed uses alchemy again to trade his right arm for his brother's soul (don't even ask me how that is an equal trade, idk). And now these brothers having realized human transmutation is a bad idea have abandoned that goal and seek out a way to retrieve Ed's limbs and Al's body... Ok Alphonse, thanks for trying to sell the show to me (which if I did successfully, you should go and watch it), but what does this have to do with companionship and ultimately the Catholic Christian's way of life?

Recently, two prominent priests in my life have be reassigned to ministries that would take them far away. This means that they would be leaving the wonderful community that they built up behind. But one of the priests in his farewell speech exhorted us to value community; that in fact salvation is only ever received in a community. It was never intended for us to receive individually and in isolation. It was intended for all the people of God. Furthermore, we must concern ourselves with all of our neighbour's reception of salvation; we need to care for our neighbours. It was truly an eye opening and powerful message.

Ed and Al look so defeated

What is significant about Ed's story in particular, is that his story highlights the importance of a strong community in the life of a Catholic Christian. In his story, Ed was greeted by grief. He lost his mother. Someone who was so close to him, and at the age of 12 he probably couldn't even fathom the full reality and consequences of such a loss. Then, he made a bad decision to misuse his gifts (alchemy) in a way he knew that he wasn't supposed to. He decided to stray from the right path in pursuit of a desire far off in the distance. As he left his life behind he arrived at the pinnacle of his journey into the darkness and he paid greatly for it: he lost his left leg and right arm.

Now, in literature it is important for us to note the significance of such a loss. What is special about the arm is not its function but its members, specifically, the fingers as a part of the arm. Our fingers contain the uniqueness of who we are because our fingers prints are uniquely our own. Our legs serve a very simple function: they transport us. They physically aid us in walking from one point to another. They help us move forward. For Ed, he had completely lost who he was and his way to move forward.

Ooouuuu deep. Thank you thank you. But that's not where his story ends, far from it. Upon a visit from Colonel Mustang, Ed is offered hope in the form of an offer to become a state alchemist. This would allow him access to an immense amount of resources to conduct research of any kind, even research on how to retrieve his own limbs and Al's body. Inspired by this Ed asks his friend, Winry, and her grandma, Pinako (these are close family friends) to give him a prosthetic arm and leg that are both made of metal (in this world, these prosthetics are called automail). After doing the surgery, he pursues becoming a state alchemist.

Well... thats a pretty decent summary of the first two episodes if I do say so myself, but what did we learn? Well, a lot actually:

1. Grief will come - In this life, we are not guaranteed many things, but some of the things I think we are guaranteed is grief, struggling, hurt, pain, you get the point. We will essentially experience the natural consequences of original sin. Sometimes, however, we don't "take it like a champ"; sometimes we actually fall deeper and deeper into sin and despair. Then what?
2. Community is our lifeline to God - Let me first say that God is ever merciful; He loves us, and readily makes Himself available and accessible to us; the fault lies with us and our brokenness. But in those times that we have strayed so far from God that we can't see Him, what do we do? When it seems like God is on one end of the spectrum and we somehow have travelled to the very opposite end, what do we do?  Well, there are also others who are journeying, or who have journeyed along the journey of life. These people can be our intermediaries to God; through them we can still see and experience Christ. The easiest to identify examples of these are the saints, but you know, living in the fallen physical world, it is sometimes hard for us to really connect with them (again the fault lies with us and our broken nature). But good news, there are people who are closer to us who can be like Christ to us: our brothers and sisters! Winry, Pinako, Al, Mustang were all a part of Ed's community. In fact, they gave him what he had lost: an arm and a leg (lol). But more importantly, they helped him remember who he was (he got his identity back), and they gave him a way to move forward (he got a leg).

   

   They're so kawaii =')

3. We are not meant to be on life support from our community forever - In fact, we are meant to also, at times, be the doctors supporting others in our community. But that aside, I want to make sure to point out that while Ed was reminded of who he was by those around him, he has to claim his identity for himself; he has to embark on his journey of self-discovery. While he was given a leg to walk on; he and those around him don't undermine the importance of getting back up onto his own legs one day. These prosthetics, while functionally do the job, they are not naturally compatible with him. Community can be our lifeline to God, but we are not meant to be on life support forever, God calls us to a state of life better than that.

"As Catholic Christians we are called into community. Ultimately, even in heaven, we are called into community: a communion of saints. Life is difficult but do not forget your friends. Sometimes the struggle may be to stay within your community. To that I say, struggle. It is well worth the struggle if you can keep close to you those friends who will keep you close to God. If you're at a point in your life where you don't have that kind of community around you, it's time to find one. It's time to step out of the darkness and bask in the light of Christ through our brothers and sisters." (kinda paraphrased from Father Carlos...)

...And with that, may God be praised!

P.S. If you enjoy Fullmetal Alchemist and you liked this post then stay tuned! I definitely hope to be able to write more about this anime as I rewatch it!