Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end
We’d sing and dance forever and a day
We’d live the life we choose
We’d fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
– words by Gene Raskin
Nostalgia is a powerful human emotion, but looking back isn’t everything.
There is a popular notion that accompanies nostalgia that it was better back then — that something has been lost in the years that have transpired between then and now. That sentiment is certainly expressed in this song, though not actually stated; it’s implied. The song looks back longingly on “those days” as if these days now don’t hold a candle to that time and period. The mere statement, “Those were the days,” implies that “these days” most certainly are not days that count for much. And they never will. Forget trying to ever compete with your memories.
Such is not the way we propose remembering the Jesus Movement. Yet much of the recent focus on the movement has been just that. Nostalgia. Let’s return to a simpler time when black was black and white was white and it was easy to tell what God was doing in the world and who was for us and who was against us. But this is not what we are going back to the Jesus Movement to find.
We are going back to find that the same Holy Spirit that filled us and empowered us then is still alive in us now and wants to use us to awaken a new awareness of Jesus, what He has done for us on the cross, and what He can continue to do in and though us to make His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are here for this. We are alive for this moment. The Holy Spirit of the Jesus Movement lives in us.
This is not a memory, or a movie, or a documentary — a chance to go back and relive a moment when these were the days. This is a portal to the power that lives in all who live in Him now … today … because these are the days, my friend. The Jesus Movement is as alive as it ever was, because Christ is alive in you and in me. Step into it now.
John Fischer The Catch 
Love this — it is so right on!
Great message and I remember that song so well. But, you know so true about these are the days. Millions embracing a powerful Jesus Movement and realizing no matter how troubled this world is its always about Jesus and we follow him we will feel better each day. Young folks today might one day think about that song and sing it when they get older. I say lets all give them something to sing about with Jesus leading the way. Each day when I see the neighbors children to the right playing with friends on the trampoline which is enclosed and safe I feel good and have so much hope for the future. I guess if your in a rut in the past go outside and look around and you will see something that will make you feel better.
Yes! there is a certain defeatism in nostalgia, as though today and tomorrow can no way be as good. To combat that, I sometimes go through the exercise of asking myself, “What is *this* the Golden Age of?”. As Toni says, go outside and look around and you will see something that will make you feel better. The Spirit is present and working today.
“The Jesus Movement is as alive as it ever was, because Christ is alive in you and in me. Step into it now.” Amen!
Elizabeth, thank you so much for the comment. Take care, God Bless, and have a wonderful weekend. I will continue to look around you just never know great now moments can be found.