Life In The Fast Lane

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” – Daniel 1:8

I’m not exactly sure to whom this should be addressed, but if it strikes a responsive chord, maybe I’m playing your song. I heard an interesting illustration on the radio a few weeks back. It was one of those little seed thoughts that takes up root within your grey matter and won’t let go until you cry uncle. Well I’ve cried uncle, aunt, been through my family tree, and to the phone book but to no avail. I’m writing this as a last ditch effort in hopes that this plaguing thought will flow from pen to pad. So here goes.

The illustration? Well it has to do with Progeria. Pro who? Progeria. It’s a baffling childhood disease. Its cause? Unknown. Its symptoms? Rapid aging. Its consequences? Early death. Children at the age of 10 look to be in their 60s or 70s. Their life expectancy is short. They have in fact, physically experienced all of life in just a few short years. What a tragedy!

There is an interesting parallel between Progeria and a disease that many young people experience in the moral realm. Its name? Life in the fast lane. Its cause? Peer pressure. Its symptoms? Moral impurity. Its consequences? Early burnout!

Many children 6 or 7 years of age know every four-letter word in the book. By the time they are 10 they may have sniffed a little glue or taken a few drags of marijuana. Premarital sex refuses to play second fiddle and strikes a major chord in the early teenage years. Gone are the days when Dad sat down to explain to his teenage son the facts of life. Anytime much past he age of 4 and you’re a little late, Pop. What a sad commentary on our society.

So what’s it going to be? Life in the fast lane with the in crowd or life on the cart path with the One who said, “strait is the gate and narrow is the way” (Matthew 7:14)? No doubt you remember the story about the tortoise and the hare. Remember who won? Guess what? The live longer too. That’s the way I see things.