On salvation and chain-smoking winged ladies.

[shirenomad]

Today's sermon was on grace, and it says something about my anime obsession that it got me thinking about Haibane Renmei. Reki tries to become a good haibane by taking care of Rakka. But she's doing it for herself, so it doesn't help her any. It's salvation by works, and it fails. She's been obsessing over earning her way out of her situation, by her own ability, and she can't. But then, when all is lost, she finally asks for help, and it's someone other than herself (the person she just wronged, no less) who comes to her rescue. Saved by grace, when she finally realized she couldn't do it alone. I always thought that was an incredibly powerful scene, but I don't think it hit me why until now.

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[dizzybum.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to church in a while. For that, I feel a little guilty. Quite guilty, in fact.