Welcome to the battlefront on this Sunday afternoon. For once the sun is shining down on the good Lord's soldiers as the war against Satan rages on.

The Salvation Army has commandeered the left lane of a busy road - witches hats organised so willing drivers can pull over, wind down their windows and hand over money to help feed the poor, save a few souls and beat back the devil's entreaties.

We're exhausted - just from being asked to give. Credit:Kitty Hill

Problem: No-one seems to be pulling over. More than 30 cars are now snaked along the right lane behind a red light. Drivers are staring ahead, tired eyes doing their best to avoid contact with the Army's soldiers. The louder they rattle their tins, the tighter grows the grip on our wallets. What's wrong with this picture? It's the Red Shield Appeal, a chance to give the wretched a better future. Have our hearts hardened so much?

Truth is, we don't have callous hearts. Nor have we grown indifferent to the suffering of others. We're just exhausted - from being asked to give. You can't go anywhere without having your personal space invaded by an Irish backpacker asking you to give money to a foundation you've never heard of making necklaces for endangered rhinos in Botswana. So-called charity workers swarm shopping centres wearing bright t-shirts and fake smiles.