Hanaya can't stop thinking about her aunt's comments regarding Hiroto (previous clip). While they hang out in the school common room, Hanaya finally musters the courage to ask Hiroto if he is following Jesus because he likes her or if he truly wants to.

Worried that she might stop talking to him, Hiroto plays it safe and says he likes someone else. He then asks Hanaya how she would feel if a guy confessed his feelings to her.

As they continue to chat, Hanaya explains why a guy might hesitate to be with her, the purity boundaries she intends to keep during the courting phase, and why that matters to her.

When she starts sharing her specific plans for cross-cultural missions after finishing high school, Hiroto realizes that pursuing her might be more complicated than he had anticipated. He feels like time is slipping away. While Hanaya takes a short nap, he keeps looking at her and speaks to Jesus from his heart.

This is a must-listen as a lot is going on in the conversation. Perhaps God is prompting you to think outside the box of a conventional life.

Only one life, the still small voice
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave
And to God’s Holy will to cleave
Only one life, a few brief years
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears
Each with its days I must fulfil
Living for self or in His will
Give me Father, a purpose deep
Let me say, Thy will be done
And when at last I’ll hear the call
I know I’ll say it was worth it all
Only one life, it will soon be past
Only what’s done for Christ will last
— C.T. Studd

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya 

Hanaya's aunt is very fond and protective of Hanaya. Before her aunt heads off on a long solo motorbike trip, she invites Hanaya to come and hang out with her.

While they’re at the motorbike garage, they chat, and her aunt shares how frustrated she feels about not having clarity on what's God's next for her. Hanaya listens and shares her thoughts on the matter.

As they keep talking, her aunt asks if any boys at school are interested in Hanaya. She then talks about relationship boundaries and advises Hanaya to never let her guard down.

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya 

Hanaya's teacher calls her in for a chat because some parents of her classmates have complained that she's influencing their children toward Christianity.

Can Hanaya hold her ground under pressure? Will she play it safe and dim her light? Or will she continue to be a bright shining lamp for Jesus at school? And what does Jesus say to Hanaya at the end?

Context: What's Hanaya up against?

For many Japanese people, Shintoism and Buddhism are closely intertwined with their identity and culture. Leaving your family's religion can be like leaving your family. Also, due to negative experiences with religious cults in the past, many Japanese are skeptical and suspicious of new beliefs. Religion and religious events are considered separate things by the Japanese. Religious activities in Japan tend to be pragmatic, like praying for money, success in exams, naming ceremonies, removing bad luck, dressing up for fun, etc. They don't think deeply about their beliefs. Also, recent studies indicate that 30% to 39% of the population identify as convinced atheists.

We need the courage to declare and display the Gospel through our words, our work, and our character.
— Dr. Patrick Fung

It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people’s minds.
— Samuel Adams

Our battle is a battle of persuasion. Be a voice, be an advocate for the Kingdom of God. Share the wonder, beauty, and truth of God without hesitation. Sometimes we get locked down in a way that the enemy would want us to, to not talk, to not speak up, to not declare the truth of God, because the truth is what sets people free.

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya 

Hanaya has been picking up on something about Hiroto for a while. She feels it's about time to say it, and when she does, Hiroto opens up. 

Could this be a God moment?

What about you? 
Are you trying to fix your heart?

You might need to hear this, or you might want to pass it on to someone who really needs to listen to it.

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya 

As Hiroto spends more time with Hanaya, more of her world is bleeding into his. The more he listens to Hanaya, the more he wants to get to know God the way she does.

He's been reading the Bible that Hanaya gave him and asking questions. But is he into it because he's secretly crushing on Hanaya? Or is he genuinely coming through?

In this clip, Hiroto encounters another of Hanaya's unique ways of seeing things.

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya 

Are you living a self-absorbed life? Is there no anguish? Is there not a cause? Doesn't your heart cry out, “Oh God, something has to be done"?

How do you plan to use your short years on this planet to do what God has entrusted you to do?

The clock is ticking, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

I hope this conversation between Hanaya and Yuri awakens a greater diligence to own your call like never before. I hope you will faithfully steward your gifting, time, money, and resources to be less about yourself and more about revealing Jesus to the world.

Come to the end of your life—your one and only precious, God-given life—and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: “Look, Lord. See my shells.” That is a tragedy.
– John Piper

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

I lost all my friends at school, now that I’ve begun to ‘walk my talk’, they make fun of me. I don’t even know what I have done. I don’t really have to say anything and they turn from me. But you know what, I am not going to apologize for speaking the name of Jesus. I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything I will. I will take it. If my friends have to become my enemies for me to be with my best friend Jesus, then that's fine with me.
— Rachel Joy Scott | From her diary, 1998

I dedicate this clip in memory of Rachel Joy Scott. Rachel was 17 years old and the main inspiration behind the character Hanaya Oki.

If you want to know about Rachel and what happened to her, you can read the post "Rachel Joy Scott: The teen who loved Jesus".

Is Jesus the most important person in our lives? When the trials of life arrive, and we suffer loss, is Jesus still worthy?

We can never glory in our capacity to love Him back. The spotlight isn't really on us or Rachel. Those who know they're loved best, love best.

If you have lost sight of Jesus, may your heart be awakened, recalibrated, and reset as you listen to this clip.

It's not the stretch of life that matters. It's the depth of life. It's not how long we live. It's how we live.
— Leonard Ravenhill

God can’t do anything in your life unless you meet him halfway. You have to make room for him. A lot of room. Go after God. Whatever it takes, do it. And don’t give the excuse, “I am just a teenager” or “I’ll do that when I grow up,” because it doesn’t work that way.
— Rachel Joy Scott | From her diary

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
— Apostle Paul

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

On their way back from Shichirigahama beach, Hanaya and her mom engage in a conversation about what causes the hardening of the heart and the falling away of believers.

Many are walking away from their faith. False prophets, false Christs, false Gospel, and a false church are proliferating among us.

How do believers get off track? What throws them into confusion and deception?

Hanaya's mom cites that the fundamental problem is not the ignorance of the truth. There's a basic reason why people do not own up to the truth.

As you listen to the words of caution and encouragement in this conversation, tend to the soil of your own heart.

The most ridiculous thing you can ever say is keep God first, keep God number one. Don't ever say that. Because you're assuming He's in the same category with everyone else. God's in a box all to Himself. There is no second. He's in a category completely separate and distinct from everything else that exists and He's there alone. I labor in my own heart to drive out other loves, competing loyalties. Let us get a greater vision of Him that He might be singular in our hearts.
— Paul Washer

Proverbs 4:18 tells us, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” When we walk the path of the righteous or the right path, our walk will become continually brighter no matter how much darkness increases around us. If this is not the case, if we, too, are experiencing increasing darkness, depression, and disorientation, then we have gotten off the right path. If we ask the Lord, He will help us understand where we got off track, but we must make the choice to turn around and be decisive in doing so.
— Rick Joyner

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

God created time. He cut off a piece of eternity for you to live in. You're not here by accident. You are not just a random number in the vast sea of the human population. You have been created by God purposefully. He knows you intimately better than you know yourself. 

He is all-knowing and everywhere. Because of who He is, you're never alone. He can whisper in your ear and your whole life can change. I'm not talking about hearing with your physical ears. Do you really know God in an out-of-the-box non-religious way?  

I hope you will get outside your own bubble, and tune your heart to believe from the core of your being what you're about to hear. This is from the Bible and speaks of God's intimate knowledge of you. May it invoke curiosity in you to dig deeper and go farther.

Being known by God has deep transforming effects upon the human heart. Namely, it produces love for God.
— John Piper

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

What we see depends on what we look for. There's always more to every story. There is no arriving. Jesus is the goal.

As you listen to Hanaya's contemplation about the world she sees and her pursuit, may it help you refocus and realign your walk with Jesus.

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya