As part of a questionnaire designed to help us get to know each other at work, I was once asked my pet peeves. Honestly, I could have come up with something, but my response was that I prefer not to keep peeves. They make lousy pets. I do try to live by that, but I can’t say there aren’t things that get under my skin.

Thieves are one of them. Not just any thieves, but in particular those who go after charities. I help manage one, and had I saved them I could show you hundreds of phishing emails aimed at fooling someone into transferring money or giving up sensitive information. They usually impersonate another officer in the organization.

What kind of lowlife targets charities? I confess to a very strong temptation to reply to one of these, like the one I got today, and tell them exactly what I think. I imagine describing non kinds of hellish torment that they will surely be due when their miserable earthly existence is terminated.

But I always stop short. For one thing, these are often automated scams, run by the online equivalent of the common street thug using tools they got off the “dark web”. My tirade might feel good for a moment, but would accomplish nothing, and possibly worse than nothing. I would be confirming that the address is valid and possibly inviting a more focused attack on the organization.

Then there’s that quiet voice inside of me, reminding me that I’m supposed to love even these people. Jesus’ blood will cover them too, if they repent. I should be praying for them, brokenhearted at their likely end, not rejoicing in it. Ok, Lord. Obviously, I still need some work.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45 LSB)