Japanese Drama Review 10 - Hanayori Dango Episode 1 - A Time to Endure

Makino is back in the classroom, seated at her desk. She has once again witnessed the F4’s led bullying of a student. She escaped into a stairwell to shout out her anger and frustration. The students are now settled at their desks as if nothing has occurred. Makino’s indignation has not ended. The turmoil of her soul is reflected in her shared thoughts. She has eighteen months left at Eitoku High School. Her strategy to endure the time to come is to keep quiet and to not draw attention to herself. Her wish is to get through this season without incident.

Makino’s desire is a good thing. She is suffering through what she observes and knows about the Eitoku culture. We can commend her for her wanting to be at peace with all, and to want to finish her time at Eitoku without incident. But how is she to do this?

We need to equip Makino to ensure she is able to respond appropriately in these trying circumstances. Training Makino with the correct principles and helping her strategize to apply them will stand her in good stead not only while at Eitoku, but in future seasons of life. Furthermore, equipping Makino will prepare her to encourage others, it will build in her sound Biblical principles to share with them.

Once again, we are presented with an ideal situation on which to build a small group discussion.

1. What is endurance?

2. What does it look like to endure?

3. What is the reason we want to endure?

4. What are the principles we live by that encourage us to endure?

Endurance is to persevere, to have fortitude, to remain steadfast and patient, and to continue behaving, acting and reacting according to a standard in a position or condition that is contrary to your moral value.

How would you encourage Makino or another high schooler to persevere in a similar situation?

• Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4).

• This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

• We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5).

• Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; (2 Timothy 2:10-12)

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