This is a Gundam.
It refers to a very famous mecha (huge robots) series in the Japanese anime universe. It's such a huge symbol, that there is a mall on Tokyo located at Odaiba (a bit far from the main area) that have a gigantic 1-to-1 model of the Gundam RX78 of the original series (late 70s).
Yes, on my travel in Tokyo, I took the public transportation (subway + some over-the-sea electric train) for 45 minutes to go there just to see the gundam (the mall was average). And yes, I did buy a gundam model (1/144 scale).
There are many Gundam series (I am definitely not a subject matter expert), and a gundam is a big deal. Gundam refers to the specific robot model that is usually faster and powerful that the average robot. In some cases, it has some sort of a special weapon or ability, and the people chosen to pilot it are usually an enhanced human being that has special mental and psychological abilities.
Gundams can easily determine the fate of wars, and it often represents as a symbol of overwhelming power (Gundam Seed), a symbol of peace (Gundam Unicorn), a symbol of hope, symbol of insanity y (G Gundam)....regardless, it is a big deal.
On a show Gundam 00, there is was a discussion among gundam pilots (they were a group that "enforces" peacekeeping) about what gundam meant to them, and the main character said the famous "I am gundam". That guy is a bit crazy, but I think he meant that his identify and sense of fulfillment is based on the gundam.
So the topic of fulfillment is an interesting one... I don't have much answers regarding this topic, so I am merely writing my current thoughts.
God has blessed me and many of my friends with the opportunity to choose what to study and what career to pursue. This can be daunting too because with more options, I find it hard to figure out which brings more fulfillment. My parents did not have the luxury to choose this, as none of them have an undergraduate degree, and their options were limited. My grandparents had even more limited options. So I wonder if they even had the idea of fulfillment when they were at work.
I am not saying that fulfillment has to come from work directly, but it is a place where we spend 40+ hours a week, and I have experienced (both negatively and positively) how a day of work can affect my mood for the week. I understand that for my parents, it is likely the fulfillment came from been able to provide and have fun with the family.
Many of my friends and I are struggling with this question, because up to to finishing undergrad, the path of life was very scripted for most of us. We are told to finish high school, then choose a decent undergrad program, finish school, and then get a stable job. But from there on, it is harder to find clear answers that dictate the choices of life.
After many talks, I have got to known a few options that I could pursue the sense of fulfillment:
- Work itself is fulfilling
- The work you do is something you enjoy, and you find satisfaction in been excellent at your job
- Work is a means to fulfillment
- The work you do is fairly neutral, but work allows you to be an active witness of Christ, and as well allows you to provide for your family. Also, it enables you to support missionaries or charity organizations. These are very noble pursuits in life.
- Fulfillment outside of work
- Work can be a life-sucking entity. You try to find fulfillment on activities after work. This could include leaning a new skill, further studying, volunteering, church ministry.
They are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
I personally think option 1 is very challenging. It is probably my goal to understand how option 1 will look in my life. I know about that God has created us in His image, and He did work during creation and that He entrusted us with the earth, so this should include the aspect of working, cultivating the environment positively, and doing it with excellent as this brings glory to God. In trying to apply this, I struggle.
I can definitely relate to options 2 and 3.
So what then?
I am still figuring out answers. But there are 2 things I need to keep in mind:
- Don't waste your life, gotta live it as much as possible to glorify God, so if I am on the wrong track, I need to redirect
- Worship God. I am currently reading a book about apologetics, and one encouragement I found is to focus on worshiping God. Paul writes a wonderful book called "Romans" with great exposition on what the gospel is, and on chapter 12, the "therefore" signals how we should respond in light of great theology from previous chapters, and the first thing is to offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, as an act of worship.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." - Romans 12:1
