Name that tune! (or that flashback to the ’80s?)
“Take me away/I don’t mind/You better better promise me/I’ll be back in time/Gotta get back in time/Gotta get back in time/Get me back in time.”
In case you don’t know, they are part of the lyrics from Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News. That was the end song to my favorite movie of all time: Back to the Future. I cannot tell you how many time I have watched that trilogy, read books about it, and I might even have some 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles of the movie and the DeLorean. T-shirts? Did someone say t-shirts? I might have a few of those as well. I was not much of a theater goer so when it came out it didn’t make much of an impression. But then we were living in a little town and they offered a free weekend of HBO and that was one of the featured movies. So we taped it (remember VHS tapes?) while watching it and that was all she wrote. That whole weekend became a blur in my memory. I had a friend and his son visit and he got hooked as well. In fact, every time we got together after that we watched it at least once. We might have watched it twice but who’s counting? Doug became as big a fan as me. I missed seeing #2 until I watched it the night before #3 released in the theaters. By then, I had a daughter who liked it as well as I did so we watched them together.
1985…1955…2015…1885 (the Old West). The Time Machine (the DeLorean) took Marty on scintillating adventures to another time and another place. Present. Future. Past. The trilogy of movies made a boatload of money. Put Huey Lewis’ song The Power of Love as the #1 song on the Billboards charts and was nominated by the Academy Awards for Best Original Song. And thrilled a whole bunch of people with its adventure.
While it was just a movie, it showed the consequences past actions had on future events. After events happened in 1955, the George McFly of 1985 and the Biff of 1985 were totally different. I, personally, could have done without some of the language, but it was depicting life in 1985 and 2015.
I’ve thought about why those movies struck a chord, at least in me, besides the sheer fun of them. I’ve decided it was because many of us wish we could go back and change things from the past. Actions. Words. Events. Things we took part in. Stupid things we have done. Changing them would make such a difference today. But we can’t. The only thing we can do is first, live with the consequences. But most importantly, give our past to Jesus and ask Him to redeem it. While I can’t change my past, I can allow Him to direct my present and future.
{Note: Yesterday, October 21, was the 50th anniversary of the time machine screen shot}
Even now, at 72, I still do and say things I deeply regret. Apologies are good but how cool it would be to have do-over! Only Jesus can mend the past and help us do better in the future.
I think I must be one of the only people who have never seen the entire Back to the Future trilogy! LOL!
I’m with you Pam on still doing and saying things that need a do-over. Only Jesus can redeem that. Don’t feel bad. I know of others who have lost out on seeing the movies. 🙂
I think you’re right about people.wanting to be able to go back in time and change the mistakes they made. Obviously, we can’t, but Jesus can forgive us for those when we ask with genuine repentance. Now you’ve made me want to watch these movies all over again, Bill!
Blessings!
i am so thankful for God’s forgiveness Martha. I’m in the same boat of wanting to watch them again. I need to find a DVD player though! 🙂
To go back in time and correct all the wrongs would be awesome to do. I thank Jesus that He did redeem all of that, and still does today. My biggest regret to go back and fix, would be, all the time that was wasted on religion(Catholic) and not accepting and understanding Christ as my Savior. God can still use me right where I am today.
I loved all the back to the future movies to Bill, with the first one still being my favorite.
I’m with you Gail. I thank Jesus that He redeemed all of my past. I wish I could go back and change some of my behavior (obviously) but more than that, the legalism I spewed out and not very loving at that. It makes my heart happy that I have someone else who likes the trilogy, especially #1. 🙂
I look back and see more areas than I would like to admit that could have used a coarse correction. Mostly in the areas where I have caused pain in others, especially those closest to me. I am thankful for the power of forgiveness, perhaps that is the biggest takeaway from those moments, I could truly see the power of forgiveness.
I’m in the same boat as you Ryan. Course correction is a good way to put it. And I am so glad for the power of forgiveness