Reflecting On $1 a Day

Originally I had three reasons for wanting to conduct this experiment in truth:

1) To reveal my compulsions- yes, this experiment revealed the things that are completely out of control in my life. In fact it did more than that. It wrote my compulsions in big, bright letters and posted them on a 50 foot marquis with rotating spotlights shining in all directions and signaling “Look here! Look here at all the things that Melanie doesn’t have a handle on- chocolate, morning comfort in the form of coffee, the desire to fit in, buying things I don’t need…”

2) To be in “training” for a day when I may be called to go “all in”- on a scale of 1-10 (10 being super radical), this experiment was about a 5 for me. It’s all relative. Some people thought what I was doing was unfathomably crazy, and others yawned and resolved to wait for future blog entries about wing walking. But whether people were inspired or not, I stepped out and was in training for something bigger in my life. If an opportunity that requires obedience and sacrifice is offered to me, I’m one step closer to saying “yes” even if the opportunity may be somewhat uncomfortable or scary.

3) To better identify with the poor- I was able to live in a little solidarity with the poor in that people who live in poverty were greatly on my mind and heart for 40 days. But the exercise was one of considerable futility because of the privilege and power that I was born into. My friend Sarah gamely took my challenge and lived on $1 a day for one week. She blogged about her similar experience of privilege and class here.

I’m reluctant to make some grand statements such as:
“THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED...” or
“THIS IS WHAT I AM DOING DIFFERENTLY FROM NOW ON...’

However, this experiment had a profound affect on me and I am not going back to business as usual. There may be some permanent changes, but for the time being I am remembering the words of Jesus to his disciples- ‘the poor you will always have with you". Most people think this just means something like “hey, there are always going to be poor people around. That’s just how life is. Do what you can, but don’t sweat it too much.”

But after my 40 day experiment I’m getting the idea that by saying “the poor you will always have with you” maybe what Jesus meant was that I am always going to have them on my mind, or in my life work, or maybe even literally by my side. I’m open to any and all of those things.