There is a bottle of delicious IPA in our refrigerator. It has been there for a week, since we had some friends over to watch a movie. This beer was left over. It is cold and lonely; it comes from one of the best batches I have ever brewed, and it wants to be consumed! Right now, and every time I open the refrigerator. It stares at me and says "please drink me immediately! You know you want to! I know that you are on the wagon, but you can make an exception THIS ONE TIME. You don't have to tell anybody."
What to do? "And lead us not into temptation"? That would mean taking the beer back out of the fridge and putting it back in the case. Or foisting it upon the next visitor, whether they like beer or not. Or, horror of horrors, either break the bottle or pour the beer down the drain.
I am going to do no such thing. Temptation is ok. I am not giving in to it. At some point some dear friend will come and drink this beer; and if not, I will do so on December 25.
That's a test, all right. You can no longer tell yourself, "No one will ever know," because now others do know about it. Another temptation will loom in the cooler months ahead - making beer and not drinking it.
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