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ONE PIECE (2023)

Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro

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ONE PIECE LIVE ACTION | OFFICIAL TRAILER

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Iconographie des pigeons - Charles Lucian Bonaparte; Pauline Knip - 1857 - via Internet Archive

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Overwhelming

Sometimes life can be overwhelming.

Not just the obvious ways. When we’re in a crisis – dealing with the death of a loved one, illness, divorce, loss of our job. Something so big that anyone who’s paying attention (and even those who aren’t) can tell that the water is coming into the boat faster than we can bail it out.

Sometimes life can be overwhelming – even when it’s not obvious.

When everything we’re dealing with starts to add up. When all of the “little stuff” gangs up on us.

We’ve got tensions in our closest relationships. We’ve got a micro-manager for a boss. And there’s a co-worker who knows how to punch our buttons. We’ve got a car that won’t stay fixed for anything. Stuff we didn’t get done is coming back to bite us. We forgot to go to the store and now there’s nothing for dinner.

By themselves, none of them are earth-shattering. But it feels like they’re working together.

Somehow, they keep adding up. To wear us down. Until they’re just as overwhelming as a major crisis.

But no matter how we get overwhelmed, the best way to handle it is the same. And it’s hidden away in today’s Gospel. Here’s what I mean.

After all of the amazing things surrounding the birth of Jesus. There’s this odd line, “and Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

And you’re thinking, “hold on – how is that overwhelming?”

Think about everything leading up to this moment, everything that Mary has been through in the last year. Visits by angels, miraculous pregnancy, strain on her relationship with Joseph, road trip while 9 months pregnant, giving birth in a barn, angelic chorus, shepherds.

Overwhelming? Yes. Because even the good stuff, even miracles can be overwhelming.

In the face of that, look at what Mary is doing.

Mary is stopping. Just for a moment. Instead of letting an avalanche of events be overwhelming, Mary is reflecting.

Mary is stopping. She’s not letting herself be pushed by the non-stop flow of events. Which is how anything, even the good stuff, can overwhelm us.

Mary is stopping. Instead of simply reacting, she’s taking a moment to just be with God. So that she can be in God’s will. Before responding intentionally.

Mary is giving us a lived example of how to keep things from becoming overwhelming. And how to hit back when they do.

She’s doing it by stopping, by breaking the non-stop flow of events.

She’s doing it by reflecting, by quietly taking a moment just to be with God.

So that she can have God’s perspective on everything that’s going on in her life.

So that she can respond intentionally, from God’s perspective.

Not because doing it with God makes it all go away or become magically better (in a few weeks, Mary and Joseph will be fleeing for their lives into Egypt). But because doing it with God keeps her from being overwhelmed.

In this new year, things will try to overwhelm you. Don’t let them.

Follow Mary’s example. And stop. Break the non-stop flow of events.

Take the time to be quiet with God and to reflect.

Then respond intentionally, from God’s perspective.

Do it with God. Not just when it’s all too much. But every day.

Today’s Readings

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OPLA APPRECIATION WEEK DAY 1: FAVORITE STRAW HAT

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I almost always take pictures of my art while holding back two curious cats 😍😂

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bts of the artful dodger via charmainefmurray on instagram

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'Jubilee Procession in a Cornish Village' by George Sherwood Hunter

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Ragnarok Netflix: my guilty pleasure.

Waiting for season 3

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let’s talk about neurodivergence in ragnarok

I finished watching season one yesterday, and much to my surprise there are no posts floating around talking about Magne’s neurodivergence and that is a crime. This show’s pretty new so if you just happen to have the misfortune of being one of my followers I’m gonna talk you through.

(this post has some very minor spoilers for the first episode. otherwise it is spoiler-free.)

First of all, Magne’s neurodivergence alone could have kept me watching, it was that good. Fortunately I also did really like the show, but the portrayal of Magne’s neurodivergence was stellar. In fact, it was the best portrayal of neurodivergence I’ve ever personally encountered on-screen. Not only that, but we have a neurodivergent main character in a fantasy story that has nothing to do with being neurodivergent.

Now then, I stick to calling Magne neurodivergent because, from what I noticed (only seen the show once,) his disorder is never named, and his main presenting behaviors could indicate ADD/ADHD or ASD (and of course both isn’t at all out of the question.) I know less about ADD and ADHD, and am on the autism spectrum myself, so that’s the lens that I’m writing this from.

Here’s an incomplete list of Magne’s presenting behaviors:

He carries tangles to stim with!

He is also seen stimming via The Leg Bounce. This behavior is common in neurotypical crowds as well, but the way scenes are framed seems to suggest this is a stimming behavior rather than a nervous tic or a way to burn off energy. Furthermore, if it wasn’t intentional… it almost certainly wouldn’t be in the show.

He’s dyslexic, which is an area I don’t know much about, but I do know dyslexia is commonly comorbid with ADD/ADHD and ASD. Not so much a trait, but also an exciting piece of representation on its own!

He’s portrayed as socially awkward, but not to the point of caricature. Sometimes he’ll a little bit behind the conversation, but once he gets comfortable he starts to find his scripts and learn how to interact with this new community better. He doesn’t stop being awkward, but we see him learning his way around new people. He’s often direct in the way he communicates, but not to the point of being “devoid of personality.”

I don’t have a name for this, but he also does the Big Calm Down Rub when he’s upset and alone.

He uses speech to text to write and keeps his journal in voice memos! He also uses text to speech to help him read!

And here’s some things we don’t see in Ragnarok that are often easy stereotypes in media (though that doesn’t mean these things can’t be neurodivergent traits or experiences):

Magne is not a complete outcast or unable to form friendships

He has a crush! And is awkward about it in the same ways every junior in high school is awkward about it! His neurodivergent qualities just flavor his normal high school awkwardness!

He doesn’t fit the “nerdy white boy” stereotype (he’s still a white boy, but this is a post focusing on the positives)

He can lie when he wants to, and lie well (one of my favorite things is how seamlessly Magne and Laurits lie for one another–when they want to)

He’s not unduly fascinated with or alarmed by death, but grieves just like everyone else

He wants to fit in, or at least have his own circle of friends.

Touch is okay for him! He hugs people!

And finally, let’s talk about Magne’s neurodivergence and his powers.

Now then, sometimes we get neurodivergent or neurodivergent coded characters gaining supernatural powers, which is great. However, along with so many other disabilities in media, the powers are gained to replace, in spite of, or because of the character’s disability. All of these depictions have their own levels of yikes.

Magne gains his powers at almost the very top of the first episode and slowly comes to understand them throughout the first season. His powers include:

super strength, speed, sight, smell, etc.

sensing when it’s going to rain (potentially sensing other specific, weather-related events?)

summoning lightning

understanding Old Norse

On top of these things, Magne’s neurodivergent traits do not go away. He stops needing his glasses, but he’s still dyslexic. He still stims, he just breaks his stim toys easier.

This is super significant! Magne’s behaviors are treated as simply a part of his character, and his powers get layered on top as another, newer part of his character. His powers don’t suddenly make him “normal.” Furthermore, rarely do we get to see neurodivergent characters who are physically capable. I’m also a huge fan of the way other people perceive Magne’s powers. For the most part, his powers, and the weirdness that comes with them, are portrayed as blending in with his other neurodivergent traits (hearing voices looks like sensory sensitivity; perceiving the true nature of the Jutul family looks like usual social awkwardness. Heck, even the super strength and whatnot could look like some kinds of hyposensitivity in ordinary situations, though Magne doesn’t seem to present those traits pre-powers.)

Overall, I adore Magne both as a character and as the least stereotypical depiction of neurodivergence I’ve ever seen. Feel free to hit me up if you have any thoughts–I’d especially like to hear from other neurodivergent pals who have seen the show!

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Fanart poster made by me (Instagram / Twitter )

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Remember, he demanded. Remember who you are. Nikolai Lantsov. Ruler of Ravka. Privateer. Soldier. 

KING OF SCARS | Leigh Bardugo

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no saint ever watched over me. not like you have.