But another man or woman, who being in grace or charity, hath alway a good general will to God in his soul, whether he sleep or wake, eat or drink, or whatsoever good deed he doth, so that it be not evil in itself; by the which will and desire he chooseth God above all things, and had rather forbear all things in the world, than anger his God for love of Him. This will, though it be but general, is of so great virtue through the grace of our Lord Jesus, that if he fall by frailty in lust and in liking of meat and of drink, or of such other infirmity, either by exercise, in eating too much, or too often, or too greedily, or too lusty and delicately, or too often before the set times of eating, it saveth and keepeth him from deadly sin. And this is truth, as long as he is in charity in his other works, and keepeth his general will in all that he doth; and especially if anon after such his miscarriage he acknowledge his own wretchedness and cry for mercy, and be in purpose specially to withstand such fleshly lusts for the time to come. (John Climacus)

If we over-consume or "too lusty and delicately" consume, but we do so as an aberration - within a broader context of grace and charity - then Climacus is confident the grace and charity will preserve us from the worst of gluttony.

I advocate a mindful and thankful engagement of our sensuality. In what we eat, drink, wear, where we live, and what we do. I see our sensual choices as potential sacraments.

But where is the line between culitivating beauty and worshiping beauty? Where does appreciation end and self-indulgence take over? Climacus wants us to be especially mindful of these distinctions.