Mark Bernstein writes just about the most sensible thing I have heard in quite a while. Often, people who wish to avoid unhealthy food can strip a good thing entirely from their lives, or more frequently, go into binge cycles. Others (yes, you, my chocolate-obsessed friends) take their decadent pleasures whenever they can get them.

But such attitudes become meta-experience quickly, more about roleplaying and the experience of tasting or eating such things than actually savoring the thing they love. The abstainers abstain because they are abstainers. The Chocolate lovers (for example) eat chocolate whenever offered because, well they are chocolate lovers, and that's what chocolate lovers do. The binge eaters struggle between these extremes.

Mark, who got this idea from A New Way to Cook, by Sally Schneider, suggests an alternative. His example? Fat.

That, my friends, is the art of savoring. Say no to Bland Lard. Savor life instead.

To be honest, however, I'll still probably continue my habit of savoring salads and other meals composed primarily of vegetables. For me, such foods are an unending delight.

This morning, I will play taps in the Memorial Day service held at a park in Mount Joy. There, we will honor those who throughout the years have sacrificed to make the United States a land of opportunity and freedom. The actions of our nation have often been mistaken, sometimes insidious. Our wars are not always just, and they are never pretty. But whatever the large-scale reason, the courage, and dedication of our troops have always been a great credit to our nation. And in the long run of the last two hundred or so years, I believe that our nation's military has been a powerful, effective force for good.

This September, I will begin a course of study in a country that wouldn't exist without the ultimate sacrifice of millions of civillians and military.

So I can study English literature.

Today's soundtrack is "America the beautiful," sung by the USAF singing sergeants.

It takes guts to love mercy more than life. May we all have the courage to do so.

Life is happening too quickly to describe. But it is marvelous.

So I will just summarize:

1. Harbour Coffee's Online Store Just Went Online: www.harbourcoffee.com
2. Susan, Mims, and I just finished "Read for the Sky." We were just notified that our sculpture, "Read for The Sky" has been selected for display on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Capitol building!
3. Monday evening, my parents, Nate Wagner, and I replaced the fabric on the roof of my car, a 1989 Plymouth Horizon (can you believe? The backing was perforated! We just sewed on the new fabric!! It was brilliantly simple.). It looks beautiful!
4. Today, I eat lunch at The Cosmos Club, with the members of the committee which selected me for the Davies-Jackson Scholarship. I'm thoroughly looking forward to meeting them, especially at such a fine venue.

Life isn't always so rosy.

On Sunday, I sat in church with an elderly man who can only breathe with an oxygen tank. At one point, he was gasping for air and writhing. His glasses went flying, as well as his oxygen tank. I replaced them for him and fetched an usher. When asked if he was OK, the elderly man described how much he was enjoying the service.

Each breath is a headier gift than any of the blessings I describe here, and yet these gifts too are marvelous. I know I can never merit such things, but I will continue to do my best to administer the grace which I am constantly being given. For every breath is a gift.

Last week, I formally accepted the Davies-Jackson scholarship, to read for the Affiliated Cantab in English Literature at St. John's College, Cambridge. I begin this two-year program in late September.

I have compiled more information about St. John's, the Cantab program, and my scholarship on the following page: In Which J. Nathan Matias goes up to The University of Cambridge.

Mark Bernstein recently quoted an excellent post by Kathryn Cramer about immigration issues, a post which also explores deeper questions. The quote slapped me in the face:

Last weekend, I spent an evening with a friend, lecturing him on all sorts of interesting things. I was exhausted, and I let my mind range. He was enthralled.

I talked entirely too much. It was quite impolite. Later, when I apologized, he demurred, saying that it was a fascinating evening.

But that doesn't make it right. I was being the person in Kathryn's quote, sans the blonde (we can't have everything).

Unfortunately, I have a tendency to do this semi-frequently. It's not consistent with true, Christ-like love. It is not the action of a priestly person who always looks to serve the needs of others. As a Christian, I should not revel in my intellect at the expense of others; rather I should revel in the truth of Christ and the Gospel more frequently.

To all of you whom I have treated in this manner, I apologize. One of you turned away from me in disgust (it hurt when you did so, but you were probably right. But why didn't you tell me?), but most of you became yet more interested.

So I need your help. Please keep me from slipping into this again.

I have derived a law: Smart people who win arguments often only prove the human inability to understand much at all.

There is always someone smarter than the smartest person.

** * **

This post began with Mark Bernstein. It shall now end with his finger. He has such a great way of putting things:

P.S. To B3: I still stand by my argument that 4'33, by John Cage, is actually a quality work, one with a poignant artistic message, and that it should be played more often. You can't get out of that one so easily.