Final Reflections on Living Below the Line

There is something to be said about “less is more.” For the last five days I have lived on $1.50 per day for all the food that I eat. Rice. Beans. Eggs.

I did all of this thinking that I would raise some money to go toward the fight against malaria and extreme poverty.But that was not all that happened.

I have this time to do a lot of reflecting. I’ve learned much more than I expected as I lived on less.

• I have been challenged to live more simply. I am no stranger to having too much of … well, everything. Often I use the word “need” when I should use the word “want.” I’ve seen that I can live well on less.
• I have been truly blown away by the generosity of people, some of whom I barely know. In a week’s time more than seventy people gave their hard earned cash, and their gifts have totaled more than $4,500. It’s taught me that many are willing to and want to serve - all they need is an opportunity to do it.
• My level of awareness has skyrocketed. With my grumbling stomach, lack of energy, and constant dull headache my mind has remained on the 1.4 billion who experience this every moment of everyday. My commitment and passion for the world’s poorest has not only grown, but also been better informed. I do not believe I’ve walked a mile in their shoes, but I have felt a smidgen of their desperation.
• We are still on the journey. This has been a great time of learning, and a great time of giving. While we are making great strides toward eradicating extreme poverty there is still more to be done. We cannot grow weary, rather we must take this step as an encouragement to take another.
• Lastly and most importantly - God will always add to whatever we give him. He will make our less into more than we could ask for or imagine. Many in our faith community - Mandy Lester, Amanda Lum, Jeff and Tonya Jenkins and others - and thousands around the country have lived below the line this week. Many have done this as an natural outworking of their faith. In this small thing, God has spoken loudly through their actions. A long time family friend, Phil Moser, commented on one of my Facebook posts saying, “To God be the glory.” Indeed. In all of this - the fight against poverty, beating back malaria, feeding the hungry - we are seeing his kingdom come and his will be done on this earth as it is in heaven.

A sincere thank you to all who have been a part of this effort and made it grow into something that has provided for many and challenged us all. I want to add a special "thank you" to Ben McKee and Kimberlee Roher for bringing this to a broader audience than we thought possible.

As this campaign draws to a close I want to give one final list of organizations that are create sustainable change around the world. Giving toward them is truly the gift that keeps giving.

• The 1010 Project – partnering with business and community development to break the cycle of poverty.
• Hope International - implementing sound microfinance and basic business training that enables men and women to build businesses and break free from physical and spiritual poverty.
• World Relief – providing long-term solutions to fight against extreme poverty.

Again, a sincere “thank you” for all you have done. May we see the day when “everyone will sit under their own vine
and under their own fig tree, and no longer be afraid …”