Stolen

    As it was time for us to leave, I picked up my purse.  Glancing inside I saw that my wallet had been opened.  I grabbed it, and in utter shock and dismay, quickly saw there was nothing inside.  All the card-insert spots were empty, including my driver's license.  The entire row of cards was gone.  My checkbook and registry:  Gone.  Pocket change:  Gone.  Random merchant receipts: Disappeared.  Coupons, gifts cards, insurance cards, library cards, discount retailer cards: All gone.  Photographs:  Stolen.  Nothing remained in the closest zippered parts and pockets. 

    Frantically, I kept zipping and unzipping and flipping and searching in every crevice and compartment of my wallet.  At last, I found a folded five and one dollar bill.  In his deliberation to completely rake everything out of my wallet, the thief missed this obscure spot.  Or maybe he took pity on me and in some freaky display of compassion, he intentionally left it behind.  The thief also did not discover the deepest part of my wallet where I kept notes from my kids.

   It appeared that this thief had plenty of time to dissect my wallet and remove the contents.  He even put the wallet back into my purse.  Where on earth did I leave my purse for such open access?  I always carry it with me.  I never leave it in the car.  When was the last time I bought anything?  At the corner grocery yesterday.  My purse was glued to my side for the entire day. There was only one other conclusion to make.  At my home.  I caught my breath.  The thief had entered my home.  Perhaps he gained access at just the right time when the door was opened. Perhaps I was on a walk.  Perhaps a kid was coming home as I was leaving, and I left the door unlocked.   

    My wallet with its credit cards, checks, and handful of pocket change represents my financial state, security, and well-being.   The other cards indicate my otherwise mundane and earthly pursuits to do life.  Why this thief would take my photographs is most difficult to grasp because they honor my heart, my family, my children--those individuals in this life who mean the most to me personally.      

    The fallout from this violation left me feeling disillusioned and desecrated.  It carved a disturbing mark on my heart and placed an unsettled knot in my stomach.  The enemy of our souls aims to rob, lie, steal, cheat, disguise.  And I wondered:  Am I being robbed?  Is the Adversary attacking me even now?  And just where is he hitting?  This enemy's appetite for destruction boldly and incessantly advances and is never appeased; however, his approach is progressive.  He cannot find my wallet without first finding my purse.  He cannot find my purse without first finding the chair over which it hangs.  And before finding the chair he must find the room, the door, my home. 

    Needless to say, my disturbing dream was at best sobering.  It caused me to muster a bit of renewed strength to examine my fortress walls and gates, so to speak, and to stand guard with fresh eyes and ears.    Although the Lord is always on "watch" and He supports His people, as a Christian warrior I also play a critically important role in defending my heart and mind, my home and treasures.  Suiting up for battle and standing firm are, after all, duties, not options.   

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God,
so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers,
against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 
Therefore, take up the full armor of God,
so that you will be able to resist in the evil day,
and having done everything, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:10-13