Childhood Memories

 

Many of those who grew up in 1980’s and 1990’s are in their thirties and so they have money & want to relive their childhood memories. A whole line of toys designed as they were upon release have come out, with vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures, legacy Power Rangers toys from Mighty Morphin, 1997 X-Men dolls, Sonic The Hedgehog Classic stretchy toys & play sets, and more. All of this is to capitalize on the nostalgia, creating impulse buys from people who want to recapture if for only a moment that childhood time when they had that toy or a memory of the show and playing outside (yes kids use to do  that). 

While there is nothing inheritantly wrong with giving in to this pull to the childhood, there are some cautions to consider. The apostle Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:11-12 NKJV). That verse, “putting away childish things,” would seem to advise against these nostalgia buys, however, some translations say “childish ways,” (NIV) which would refer to behaviors and thinking, not stuff from your past, I mean was Paul against keeping childhood heirlooms? I think not, “childish ways,” makes more sense when connected the earlier verses about “thinking and reasoning like a child.” So I would say this is not a fair verse to condemn childhood memory buys. Some would even claim that Jesus our Lord telling us to be like children () would actually    support this nostalgia, however, I am convinced Jesus was emphasizing that to be like children in faith, they believe easily, and they do not let fear rule them. 

Some would decry these reminisce buys is living in the past and unhealthy. That companies are exploiting your childhood to cash in. There is some truth there, and you will never be able to recapture the full potency of those times you dressed up as Superman or watched that Batman show. We cannot go back, only replay the memory of it and the toys & memorabilia are like statues in a church to help stir the remembrance. Is this harmful? That depends on how consumed you are. If you like to have some toys from your childhood, and have them displayed, and they make you smile, I see no harm. But if you are spending lots of money and going into debt to collect those toys and etc, then there is a problem. The Bible has no words to condemn or support these nostalgia buys, it is simply a matter of conscious. Either you find it a nice reminder or it could be a hazard to your bank account. 

Memories are precious. If a toy or comic book or something reconnects you with good times, I see no harm. God is love (1 John 4:16). That said I find my adult perspective is different than as a kid. Take The Mighty Moprhin Power Rangers, as a kid I thought they were the coolest thing! I thought their morphin armor space/ jump suites were so epic with their dinosaur and dragon helms. Nothing at the time in The West was quite like it. However, on a rewatch I found Rita Repulsa’s spells she said in another language, the candle circle with the Green Ranger being bespelled, and the Movie with the Spirit Animals very concerning; this introduced children to dangerous witchcrafts and spirit animals which is a false religious practice. This is problem, as I child I “thought like a child,” and paid attention to the rad looking armor, weapons, and Zords, not the magic and questionable spiritualities; even Rita had a wand with full moon and crescent moon in it, which has major alchemic and witchcraft correlations. I never paid attention as a kid to Rita’s wand, but as an adult it bothers me due to the crescent moon’s use in occult practices. 

This is the issue, as a child you loved Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michalangelio, the Ninja Turtles! Heroes in a Half Shell! You probably did not pay much attention to that in original live action movie that Splinter enters a astral plane through a fire to talk to The Turtles on a farm.  Cuz as a child you loved the butt kicking and wise cracks, the subtle spirituality was not at the forefront. So when revisiting your favorites from your childhood, I urge you to take a close look at the substance, you have new eyes to see. And maybe that stuff you loved as a kid, like too much candy or energy drinks isn’t spiritually good for you. Amen.