Fast As I Can
“Fast As I Can” is episode #671 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by Marshal Younger and Paul McCusker, and originally aired on October 30, 2010.
Summary
Wooton, Eugene, Connie, and Matthew try to apply the discipline of fasting and, through their comedic antics, realize that it’s far more difficult than they imagined.
Plot
Eugene Meltsner, Connie Kendall, Matthew Parker, and Wooton Bassett are helping Whit with a new display at Whit's End. The new display has to do with spiritual disciplines such as fasting. Matthew asks what the point of fasting is. Whit answers by saying that fasting is giving up something the body enjoys so they can focus on prayer. Whit says that fasting isn't always giving up food, and that it can be anything. As an example to the kids, Whit decides to fast reading the newspaper. Upon hearing this, Connie, Eugene, Wooton and Matthew decide to fast something to. They decide to depart, and pray about what they would give up.
The next day they meet back up at Whit's End. Matthew decides to give up computers, Eugene decides to give up words with more than two syllables, Connie decides to give up primping herself, and Wooton decides to give up junk food. After making their commitments, Eugene is reminded of a speech he has to give at the college.
Matthew talks to Whit about how computers are everywhere. Whit suggests doing something to take computers off his mind. So to do that, Matthew takes his suggestion and goes into the Imagination Station. Meanwhile Wooton visits Connie at the counter, and they talk about how their fasts are going. Wooton is struggling along, and Connie suggests he find something to replace junk food. Up stairs, Eugene is preparing for his speech at the college. Whit tries to encourage him by saying that everyone else is struggling with their fasts too.
Matthew starts his Imagination Station adventure. He visits Thomas Edison writing the declaration of independence. But instead of a quill pen and parchment, Thomas is typing it on a computer and uses words like "cool stuff" and emoticons. According to Thomas, Matthew's imagination affected the program. Meanwhile, Wooton is on his mail route and tries saying a prayer every time he thinks of junk food. he quickly decides that isn't working and decides to try something else involving a phone book.
Back at Whit's End, Matthew talks to Whit about not being able to think about anything but computers. He suggests taking a cue from Thomas Jefferson. The Wooton comes in stating that he has a way for himself to stop thinking about junk food. Every time he thinks of junk food he will pray for someone out of the phone book.
Later when Eugene goes to give his speech, Whit explains to the audience that Eugene is going to give a speech with no more than two syllables. His speech goes well and everyone seems to like his approach. Later Wooton is on his mail route and asks Mrs. Randolph how her grandson is doing.
At Whit's End, Matthew reads a response from his Aunt. He sent letters to many people, instead of texting or e-mailing them. Wooton says that his fast went well because he lost five pounds, got to know new people, got closer to ones he already knew and started a prayer network with a bunch of them. Connie says that she learned that demanding they notice she had been un-primping herself was as vain as her primping herself. Eugene says that he spent most of the week worrying about his speech, and said it turned out alright though disastrous. Whit says that he got some new insight for the discipline display. With the touch of a button it shows the representation of the different disciplines. They then hear quacks and chase Gertrude, (Wooton's duck) out of the display.
Discussion Questions
1. Which character's "fast" in this episode would be easiest for you to imitate? Which do you think would be the hardest? Why?
2. Why are discipline and self-control crucial if we intend to follow Jesus? Why is it helpful to enlist trustworthy people to hold us accountable? (Galatians 6:2, Proverbs 27:17).
3. Is God nudging you to give up something temporarily in order to focus more on Him? How could you use that time and energy to worship God or bless other people the way Wooton and Matthew did?
Cast
Heard in episode
Mentioned in episode
| Character | Mentioned By |
|---|---|
| Eva Parker | Matthew Parker |
| John Adams | Thomas Jefferson |
| John Hancock | Thomas Jefferson |
Notes
- Trivia
- This episode title was revealed on the promo for Focus on the Family's Mother Day Contest. It is near the bottom of the video.
- Biblical figures for displays were previously mentioned in #135: “Back to Bethlehem, Part 1”.
- Wooton's guess that Connie's fast is of wearing any color besides green is an in-joke to fans regarding Connie's consistently being pictured in album artwork and videos as wearing a green sweater.
- This episode's plot lines related to sacrifice bear similarities to several previous episodes.
- The Barclay Family decided to give up something that consumed their time and interest (television, in their case) in #152: “The Meaning of Sacrifice”.
- Eugene previously attempted to curb his tendency to show off his knowledge in #580: “Tales of a Small-Town Thug”. He was also fasting from food in #339: “Do, For a Change”.
- Wooton gave up unhealthy foods in #513: “Do or Diet”.
- Goofs
- Eugene uses the word "ideas" instead of the three-syllable-word, "principles," because of his fast. However, "ideas" is technically a three-syllable word if properly enunciated correctly.
- This error may have been due to his mental fatigue over his fast, similar to his rare grammatical errors caused by lack of sleep in #396: “Poor Loser”.
Reviews
Quotes
Wooton Bassett: I know! You're giving up wearing every color but green!
Thomas Jefferson: Hey, what do you think about this line? Life, liberty and the pursuit of cool stuff. I can just cut and paste it from the third paragraph! And do you like how I used the smiley face emoticon at the end there?
Eugene Meltsner: Specifically, I wish to curb my desire to exhibit my perspicacity.
Wooton Bassett: Have you tried deodorant?
Eugene Meltsner: Last week you made a less than succinct argument that I might be overly...uh...
Connie Kendall: Obnoxious?
Matthew Parker: Brilliant?
John Whittaker: Committed?
Wooton Bassett: Rectangular?!
Connie Kendall: Wordy?
Wooton Bassett: Maladjusted to the elevation!
Connie Kendall: Whit, is Eugene in your office?
John Whittaker: I don't know. Why?
Connie Kendall: Well, the door's locked, and I keep hearing someone whimpering!
Wooton Bassett: Of course we notice you, Connie. But right now you look a lot like a gingerbread cookie to me.
Guy in audience: What is the predominate interaction for mega-voltage radiation therapy energies?
Wooton Bassett: I fasted using verbs once. There was very little action that day.
Matthew Parker: I'm fasting computers.
Connie Kendall: Interesting choice. Why that?
Matthew Parker: My mom's always telling me I spend too much time sitting in front of my computer. I emailed her that I thought she was wrong but she wouldn't let it go. So I logged off and came over here.
Wooton Bassett: Okay, say a prayer every time I think about junk food. (sniffs the air) Ohhh. Somebody is barbecuing hot-dogs! Oops! Uh okay, Dear God thank you for wonderful smells such as barbecued hot-dogs and all the other foods that I will not have the pleasure of eating Amen!
Resources
| |||||||||||||||||
- Episodes aired 9 times
- Episodes in Album 52: Cause and Effect
- 2010 Season Episodes
- Episodes sorted alphabetically
- Episodes sorted chronologically
- Episodes hosted by Chris Anthony
- Episodes written by Marshal Younger
- Episodes directed by Dave Arnold
- Episodes produced by Bob Hoose
- Episodes with sound design by Christopher Diehl
- Episodes with music by John Campbell
- Episodes recorded at Salami Studios
- Episodes engineered by Christopher Diehl
- Episodes executive produced by Dave Arnold
- Episodes with Normal intro
- Episodes with Narration wraps
- Episodes with Normal wraps
- Episodes with theme of Fasting
- Episodes with theme of Sacrifice
- Comedy Episodes
- Episodes that use the Imagination Station
- Episodes written by Paul McCusker
- Episodes with promos
- Episodes with samples
- Episodes on CBD
- Episodes on iTunes
- Episodes on Amazon
- Episodes on the Odyssey Library
- Episodes on the Odyssey Scoop
- Episodes with John Whittaker
- Episodes with Connie Kendall
- Episodes with Eugene Meltsner
- Episodes with Guy in Audience
- Episodes with Guy in Audience voiced by Rudy Haerr
- Episodes with Spiritual Disciplines Display
- Episodes with Spiritual Disciplines Display voiced by Will Ryan
- Episodes that mention Eva Parker
- Episodes that mention John Adams
- Episodes that mention John Hancock