Having a half-hour before meeting the family for dinner, I decided to stop at Broese. As I hopped off my bike, a fellow with an Amnesty International badge approached me. I waved him off: “We donate already.” Thirty feet on, a gal came up as I parked and locked it. “Do you live around here?” Oh God, I thought, here we go. “Yes,” I said, awaiting the pitch. And then I added, just to provoke her: “You?” She smiled but didn’t answer. “What are you going to do?” she asked. I laughed. What a question! “Oh please.” I turned and headed for the bookstore.

What a terrible technique! I thought. Usually within the first sentence they have you feeling guilty about human rights or plastic in the sea or whatever, but now I still didn’t even know what she was selling.

And then it hit me.

This is what we call being “not led into temptation.” (Blessed are the oblivious!)

Go in peace, young lady! This prayer’s for you!