Taste

If we are not to be "sweet" in every situation, what is the alternative? What is the opposite of sweet, anyway? And isn't bitterness undesirable, even immoral, infectious, spiritually paralyzing?

But what did our life science teachers (wrongly) teach us, using the handy-dandy diagram seen above? The tongue is made to taste variety.

Sometimes it is desirable to have a sweet, happy, life--to only notice what is good and only be an easy presence in others' lives. But after a while, and I've experienced this lately, one can have too many sweets and start to crave something else. Bitter? Maybe, like beer, coffee, or salty, like steak, olives, potato chips, or sour, like wine, pickles.

Trying to be sweet all the time becomes overkill. It's too easy to go for the instantly pleasing stimulus. Maybe there is a good bitterness, an honesty that tempers the sweetness that starts to taste fake, unsatisfying, even sickening. Bitter herbs represent honesty about the sad parts of life, the fact that there is sin, death, grief, and disappointment.

Salty people, the salt of the earth, tell the truth. They challenge and provoke controversy. They save life from blandness. Women are often admired for being "salty," "saucy," or "spicy." Spicy and salty can be too much, too, though. I love dessert, its pleasing texture, its easiness. We have to be positive, to defend others, and cover their failings sometimes, celebrating what is good.

I think I understand better now, because of the tongue. I don't have to be sweet all the time. However, the principle of balance comes into play, of putting sugar in bitter tea, or sour cream on spicy chili. I have never been someone who was addicted to spice, but I have been enamored with bitter hops, strong coffee, Irish chips, and milk chocolate. After attempting to live exclusively on one of these flavors, I always tire of it and seek dietary diversity. May I strike that balance in my personality on a daily basis rather than causing those around me to grow surfeited with my extremes.