We live in a fast culture. We demand fast service, fast computers and fast food. Fast food, by the way, isn’t fast. It just lies there under that heat lamp waiting for slow people to pick it up. Calling it fast evidently makes us feel better. Eating it doesn’t. Imagine how healthy we could be if we ate real fast food.
Cheetahs are some of the fastest and healthiest animals on earth that eat REAL fast food. Ever watch one of those shows on television where the cheetah is chasing down a gazelle? That’s fast food. Chasing fast food is all they need to stay healthy. Cheetahs don’t have to jog. You never see cheetahs running along the road wearing headbands and sweats.
If you really want to stay healthy forget about lifting weights and jogging, simply strap your next cheeseburger to the backside of a gazelle and go for it. If a cheetah shows up you will likely get even more exercise.
In this fast society we even ask for food “to go.” Isn’t all food “to go.” No one ever stands at the cash register and eats food off the counter. We get “fast” food “to go” then drive around trying to keep the car on the road while digging french fries out of the bottom of a paper bag. None of this burns a lot of calories and all of this is about as dangerous as texting while driving.
It’s not healthy to try and eat on the run. Animals don’t do that either. You never see a cheetah running with it’s mouth full saying, “I got a meeting. No time for lunch!” You’ll never see a Cheetah run into a tree while trying to squeeze ketchup onto a bunny.
So what’s your point Ken?
I think we are living too fast! I have successful friends that work so fast I never see them. While a dear friend patiently struggles with a life threatening disease, I go ballistic because a webpage takes 10 seconds to download. What’s wrong with that picture?
NOT SO FAST! I am purposely slowing down and already I am being rewarded. My 9 year old grandson beat me in a loooonnng game of chess yesterday. Slow was worth it! The work I am doing on a new book is more satisfying and precise because I have refused to do it fast. My heart beats with a slower and happier rhythm these days. Maybe, I can convince a friend to enjoy a leisurely lunch.
By the way, my favorite meals are those shared with unhurried friends with whom I can talk and laugh over slow food. My favorite restaurants are the ones where you hear the words “take your time.”
In this culture almost no one stops to smell the roses and even fewer slow down enough to see them. I can see the finish line from where I stand, and pray I don’t miss any of the scenery on the way. What do you think of these thoughts?
The race of life is not one of speed, it is one of endurance.
The race of life is not a race to be won, it is a race to be savored.
Fast isn’t always good! My mom told me to beware of fast women.
There’s one exception. I’d like to be able to run faster than the speed of sound so I wouldn’t hear my knees creak.
Let me hear your thoughts! [reminder]
Comments
Maybe I could tape a cheetah to my back!
I’m with you….long dinners with good friends are the BEST!
Good word, Ken. I love to go to an “all you can eat” buffet. I can take my time and make lunch and dinner at one sitting!!
I’m slowly but slowly dropping activities from my schedule. Some of these have been very fullfilling and have helped my community, but it’s time to slow down and let someone else carry the water a while. Thanks for bringing the subject up Ken.
skimmed the big points. nice. gotta go.
actually, thanks! I needed to hear the admonition to slow down.
Thanks for the reminder. I grew up on a farm. My brothers would sometimes get mad at my Dad because they couldn’t do field work in the dark. Dad would disconnect the lights on the tractor so that they would not do field work into or through the night. He always said that when the sun went down it was time to go to bed because your body needs to rest. It was also the reason that we did not work on Sundays. We only did the chores. I am grateful for his lesson and example!
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Fast food for us is a bison that was able to run at speeds above 25 mph, or a bear roast from the bear that tried eating a friends donkey (he called and said if you can be here in 30 minutes the meats yours. we did the 45 minute run in 30 minutes.) however when cooking the meat it takes up to 18 hours to cook the meat just right. For our next fast food run Cindy wants an elk so I guess we get to see how fast they run. Life is the same way I used to rush everywhere, but, now that year 8 is looming in the near future I kind of like the idea of being able to do things slow and also sit out and look in awe at God’s creations, except the skunks.