Food for Thought: Microwaves and Crockpots

Last Food for Thought... just for you.

Late last year I was reading a very interesting book on Fasting: The Fasting Edge by Jentenzen Franklin. Actually, he has 3 books on the subject, and he's considered one of the best authors on the subject. This one was his latest book. I bought one of the others for a friend, and I plan on reading it in the future.

Anyway, it was a great book. It really delves deep into the personal relationship with God, and different aspects of it, and talks about where fasting fits in with it. Great book.

There was one statement in there, in Chapter 3, that has stuck with me pretty strongly. Probably because it is something that has been on my mind for several years now. I just really haven't seen it put in words. But when I read it I knew it was the truth.

"We have been blighted with a microwave mentality, but we serve a Crock-pot God."

Microwaves.

Crockpots.


I use one more than the other.

I bet you do, too.

I remember when we got our first microwave, back in the early 80s. Big boxy thing. Yes, we always had a crock pot around, for as far back as I remember, but it was NOTHING, and has nothing on microwave.

And over the years, microwave ovens have become more compact. They have higher wattages too. They are more stylish. I like the stainless steel ones. My kitchen has black appliances, so of course I have a black one.

I use it everyday. I may use my crockpot once a year these days. I use to slow cook my meats in them - oxtails, neckbones, turkey wings, and the like. I don't eat those things anymore.

Hence, no need for me to break out my crockpot.

But this post isn't about that?

Or is it?

That quote above was in a paragraph, wrapped tightly in the following quote:

"If God doesn't speak to us in 5 minutes, we decide he isn't talking today... We want everything overnight, including maturity."

You know, I am utterly shocked at how fast my world is going. How fast things are done. 20 years ago, you could have NEVER told me that I would have a computer that rested on my lap, this laptop. I would have called you a liar if you would've told me way back then that I would have a phone, a smartphone, that would work faster than my laptop.

I do believe I would've laughed in your face. Laughed really hard.

Yet, in 2011, here we are. Here we stand. Life is FAST. With a push of a button, information is at my fingertips.

And I have a fit if that which is at my fingertips doesn't work fast enough. A literal conniption fit.

Fast fast fast.

And hence... my bible, it's at my fingertips.

And me? I know I have four or five laying around the house.

I even have websites where I can bring up 35 versions of the Bible.

Everything is at my fingertips.

But... I am finding that certain things in life must be taken real slow.

Crockpot slow.

Placed on a low setting. Cooked super slow.

The flavors have a chance to meld, blend, and mature into something very rich.

Something very rich indeed.

And I am finding out, and have understood for awhile that somethings are not microwaveable.

And somethings don't go in a crockpot.

I look around me, and notice that many things we want, we want it now, and we want it fast. And a lot of the things of life just don't work that way: relationships with people, internal growth and change for the better...

And a relationship with God.

Those things cannot be just thrown in the microwave.

It just don't come out right at all.

I want that mature relationship with God.

And I understand, like with that crock-pot, it is something that has to be slowly developed. It has to grow and mature.

That is the only way to get something good.

And I am happy for that. It can't be cheapened and obtained by a mere snap of the fingers, or in the blink of an eye.

I don't want to be blighted- damaged, frustrated, injured, marred, messed up, spoil, tainted, withered, trashed, or wreck- by this microwave mentality that I am not ashamed to admit that I have.

I want to respect the slow development of the relationship with God... hoping that it is well rooted, well matured...

And something that lasts.

Thank you for tuning in to my Food-For-Thought blowout. I think about these type of things the majority of the time. I needed to end my 2011 and begin my 2012 with some great thoughts, concening things heavy on my mind, and even on the direction I want to go in my spiritual life.

We now return to our regular House of LadyLee programming.