“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 makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:43-45
 
I love mountain biking. My buddy Nic got me into it and, even though he’s a lot better at it than me, he’s still the guy I enjoy riding with most. Since I’ve started mountain biking we’ve been on an ongoing quest to find new places to explore and ride in the area that we live. We’ll sometimes scout single-track on Google Earth and then go find it and ride it.
 
One such area is a massive piece of open veld between Midrand and Centurion that used to be very popular with mountain bikers. It’s mostly wild grass and single track, with occasional eucalyptus groves. In the middle of the veld there’s a dam where small game can sometimes be found in the early mornings and late afternoons. There’s a lot less game than there was 2 years ago and there are no more mountain bikers. Wealthy golf estates on the eastern limit hem in the veld but on the western side the poverty-stricken community of Olievenhoutbosch encroaches. Gangs armed with guns and knives now prey on anyone with something worth stealing. Police have been unsuccessful at apprehending these criminals, so security guards have been posted at all the popular entrances to warn people not to go in there.
 
It makes me sad that nobody is doing anything about these punks. In my frustration, sadness gives way to anger and all compassion flies out the window. I fantasize about designing a bicycle packed with explosives that can be detonated a few minutes after it gets stolen. It’s bizarre to me that I’ve actually considered murdering someone with a grenade under a bicycle saddle in the name of justice. I’m challenged to be as ruthless and passionate about the only true solution to the brokenness of man that causes this problem in the first place.
 
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