day no. 17,218: drunk on abstention

"Abstainer, n. A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure. A total abstainer is one who abstains from everything but abstention, and especially from inactivity in the affairs of others." — Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary 

There is often just as much danger in swearing something off as there is in being obsessed with it. Alcohol is one of those things. Those who drink too much are in the same boat with those who refuse to drink a sip. They are both out of their right minds.

"Rum, n. A substance that causes madness in total abstainers." — Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary 

Tyranny is often fueled by those who want to indulge or by those who want to abstain. Those who want to drink as much as they can pass laws to ensure the tap stays on and those who don't want to drink at all pass laws to keep others from drinking as well. So, whether it be the gluttony one of the scrutiny of the other, both end with everyone else being whipped by the laws of the consciences (or lackthereof) of others.

The godless get drunk on drink or on power. Prohibition was the product of those drunk on abstention.

"This madness goes both ways: if you drink it, it makes you mad, and if you don’t drink it, it makes you mad."  — Douglas Wilson, The Seven Deadlies

Too much alcohol will cause you to lose your head, but so will too little.

Colossians 2:20-23

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. 

Those who go without seem to have a handle on things, but it only seems that way. They can say, "No" to certain things, but they cannot say, "No" to themselves wanting to say, "No" to those same things. And many times a feigned allergy to certain things is merely the mask someone wears to keep you from discovering how obsessed they are with it. They spend all day thinking about drinking, for example, which is more hours in the day the drunkard does.

On the other hand, those who indulge in gluttonous behavior aren't exactly thrilled by the presence of those who partake responsibly.

1 Peter 4:3-6

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

So, eat the fat and drink the sweet and demonstrated self-controlled gratitude in what you enjoy.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.