Matthew 6:19

Despite the alarm system, we have had a burglary during the night. Someone jemmied open a window and lifted Bob's wallet . If they had come in at any other point, the alarms would have gone off, that was the ONE place...

Good news - there wasn't any cash in the wallet

Bad news - it had a lot of other stuff in it

Good news - nothing else was stolen

...but it has meant a lot of hassle, cancelling cards [thank you M&S for your efficient CardSafe system which deals with much of it all in one phone call] and trying to remember what was in the wallet.

And what about all those loyalty cards - only one stamp away from a free coffee at Caffe Nero!

The craziest call was to Staples about Bob's business card. He rang and reported it stolen, and was asked for the number. "How do I know what that is?" "It is on the back of your card Mr Almond" "What did I say I was ringing you about? " "Ah...."

And then there was the Prepaid Hospital Parking Card which you swipe through the machine each time [useful for emergency pastoral visits] - but how much credit was left on that?

And so many of the cards are in our joint names, so mine are effectively useless as well, and I too have to wait for replacements.

And the Driving Licence - which cannot be replaced until you pay £20, and you cannot do that on the Internet without a credit card...

Karl our Village Bobby was as helpful as ever [lots of this happening in our village at the minute, apparently]

I wonder if the burglary was what woke me at 4 this morning?

In real terms we haven't really lost anything much - just time spent sorting it out - and it will all get replaced. This is nothing compared to those people affected by tsunami and earthquake and flood.

We'll be fine very soon - but spare a thought and a prayer for those who have really suffered loss in recent days.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also