This week on Geek Devotions, Dallas is taking a look at the story presented by Taco Bell’s latest manga and anime Ad campaign for their Nacho Cheese Fries. While doing so he takes time to discuss how your lowest point could be the spring board for your greatest victory.
In 6 years of creating devotions based on geek/pop-culture, I never thought I’d do a devotion based on an ad campaign for Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries… but here we are…. Doing just that. For context, we recommend you check out the Taco Bell manga then the Anime commercial that we have linked below.
Download Taco Bell Fry Force Manga: https://www.tacobell.com/news/taco-bell-nacho-fries-are-back-fry-force-edition
Check out Taco Bell Anime Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DZ516Aq7Lg
The story that Taco Bell has laid out is actually pretty interesting and has left me not just wanting crispy potatoes and warm cheese dip, but an actual series based on this story! The story presented surrounds a young mech pilot who is has suffered a significant loss. Her brother was taken away from her amid a battle with an alien kaiju that was trying to rob the world of Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries. This left her with two choices…
Be a victim and live in despair…
Or
Take this experience in stride, recognize what has happened was tragic, but don’t let it keep her from fulfilling a greater purpose. She has this great line in the commercial, “I’m just hungry; hungry for hope.” This tragic experience left her wanting hope for herself and others. She didn’t want anyone else to experience the pain and loss that she suffered and thus decided to fight harder than before.
This leads to our discussion for today. A lot of individuals, possibly even you, have been through some terrible and tragic things. Those feelings of anger, despair, fear, and doubt; are real and are painful. I’m not here to debate that. But, I am here to encourage you in this; you don’t have to allow the loss and tragedy to continue to victimize you and hold you down. You do have the choice, the very difficult choice; to take that pain and move forward for something greater.
In Psalm 40, we see a song of David where he highlights this very powerful truth;
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3
Here he lays out an essential aspect of what this process looks like. “I waited patiently for the Lord.” There is not fast and easy track to overcome tragedy. Anyone who says otherwise is probably trying to sell you something. It is a process, and it does take us waiting patiently for the Lord. This involves us taking time to lean into the Lord through prayer, reading the scriptures, worship, and simply being faithful. I wish so badly I could say that this is an easy process, but what I can tell you is this; as you lean into Him, you will find victory in your life, not just that you can find the strength to help others.
Today, my encouragement is to trust in the Lord and don’t allow your past to continue to victimize you. Take one step at a time toward victory. Become hungry for hope.