Would It Spoil Some Vast Eternal Plan

I've been thinking.

I can quite possibly spend up to an hour a day just checking over my bank account, making sure everything is going OK. Making sure all the Direct Debits have gone of the account without incident. Finding alternative ways of getting a quart out of a pint pot. Working out how to afford good things for the family. You know the routine. I doubt if I am alone at the moment, in the current economic climate...

I know I'm not particularly gifted in finances, but it never fails to amaze me when I reach the end of the month and realise that all the bills got paid.

I give all the credit to my Father in Heaven for his mercies here. Answered prayer, indeed.

However, it got me thinking... Why are things this way? Surely I could be so much more effective in my daily life if I didn't have to spend so much time trying to reason out how to make it work... And what about the things I'd love to do - places I'd love to go - but I simply don't have the disposable income.

What about that, Lord?

I keep coming back to the lyrics of "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof (written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock). In the film version, Reb Tevye (Topol, pictured above) talks to God about his dreams for a more comfortable life. His heart's desire to spend more time studying God's word, which in his words, would be "the greatest thing of all". Can't disagree with that. Of course, it's really tough to come up with many examples of any 'rich men' who spend their time in scriptural study. I think most of their time is spent in shareholder meetings, in estates management. Those kinds of distraction.

I would like to think that I could do so much more if I had more resources available to me. I could provide for my family much better. I could give much more to my favourite causes. Give it away to comfort the poor and the needy. Make the world a better place.

And yet - my Father in Heaven has "decreed I should be what I am". He has placed me in one of the richest countries in the world; therefore I will never know real poverty. He regularly challenges my thinking, teaches me about the truths of scripture, shows me 'the pearl of great price'. He reminds me that I am a work in progress. And that His provision in my life may be seen as much by what He doesn't give me than by what He does.

Overview: Living Below The Line

I know that I can't come ever truly understand the sheer hopelessness of poverty, but I've had a brief glimpse of it. There's also a big difference between having only just £1 to spend on food and drink and buying everything (heating, lighting, travel) on that same amount. Many of these people even lack the simple necessity of basic shelter!

I know all this, however this week I've been attempting to do something about it. Will you do something in response to my five-day challenge?

"Go and do something!" - William Booth

Find out how to help at https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/cmachan

Day Five: Finishing Below The Line

It's the last day of the challenge and to celebrate there was eggy bread for breakfast!

Another particularly busy day, including a business meeting that took up most of the latter half of the morning. Got invited out to lunch and had to decline the offer - a good opportunity to tell others about Living Below The Line, however there were no offers to sponsor me. So, having seen my colleagues out of the door, it was back to my desk for my soup.

At least this week had been a glimpse of what it means to Live Below the Line. However, it's not a choice for some people - it's unfortunately the life they have to live.

It's not too late to sponsor me if you want to: any money raised by me in this challenge goes to support The Salvation Army International Development (UK)'s vital work in fighting poverty.
Just go to the link here.

In the meantime, it's one last meal of rice and mixed veg tonight!

Day Four: Serving Below The Line

Woke up at my usual time so I quickly snatched a quick breakfast of toast before heading off for work.

A wholly unpredictable day, full of challenges and opportunities... thankfully I was able to get out of the office at lunchtime but I daren't head for my usual coffee shop to unwind and use their wi-fi. Doubt if they would understand why I wouldn't want to buy anything... Not this week.

The afternoon was pretty busy, fuelled by the inevitable packet soup. Sat on a crowded train tonight opposite a young girl with a bag of chips. (sigh)

My wife will be out tonight with her cub pack and I plan to be busy with a number of different jobs, so it's sandwiches tonight. Sadly, not a chip buttie. (another sigh)

Day Three: Persevering Below The Line

It's the third day and I'm pleased to say this marks the half-way mark through the challenge. Woke up unreasonably early today so there was an opportunity to take my time over breakfast - a Scouting favourite, Eggy bread - before catching an earlier train into work.

Lunch was soup (again) which wasn't too bad... although the mere presence of biscuits in the office this afternoon made life somewhat difficult. I didn't succumb.

Rice and mixed veg tonight for dinner, before my wife and I head out for Bible Study.

Day Two: Working Below The Line

It was much tougher today, a busy day at work. The toast I had for breakfast simply wasn't enough; I can allow for an egg or two during the week so that'll be the plan for tomorrow.

So far this week I've managed to get by drinking only water. Today saw a welcome change, as lunch was packet soup, made in a mug at the office. Just as well; even the cheapest sandwich at the supermarket down the road would have cost me £1!

The highlight of the day: beans on toast tonight!

To find out why on earth I would put myself through such inconvenience, why not follow the link here.

Day One: Living Below The Line

I've been meaning to fundraise for this ever since I saw information about Living Below The Line at ROOTS a year or two ago. It's apt then that the first day for this year's campaign is on the May Bank Holiday - it was this time last year that I was at ROOTS with the family!

As it's was a Public Holiday today in the UK, I didn't do all the usual things I would normally do (which helped) but I particularly missed my morning cup of coffee. I resolved to remember to keep my fluid intake up, so today I have drinking more water than usual.

Spent today at Chislehurst Caves with some good friends. Didn't succumb to temptation when passing the sweets counter - although their offer of Nachos in their cafe hit me a little hard today!

Thanks to all those who have encouraged me; particular thanks to those who have sponsored me! For further info, follow the link here.

A week's shopping for a fiver?

Just did my shopping this morning for 'Live Below The Line' which I start this coming Monday... It's amazing how little you get for a fiver! No possibility of coffee this week; it's a hard choice to make - but at least I have a choice...

For further information on what I'm setting out to do and the opportunity to sponsor me, follow the link here,

Live Below The Line

Live Below the Line is an innovative awareness and fundraising campaign that's making a huge difference in the fight against extreme poverty. It works by challenging individuals to really experience 'living below the poverty line'. In UK terms, that means trying to live on only £1 a day.

Tough? You don't know how tough. And admittedly neither will I, unless I attempt to experience it for myself. Experience something that the approximately 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty have to suffer every day. That's over 20 times the population of the UK - living every day in extreme poverty.

In 2012, Live Below the Line is running in the UK, Australia and the USA simultaneously, with more than 20,000 people spending 5 days 'living below the line'. Between the 7th – 11th of May, they can spend no more than £1 a day on food and drink.

Okay, so I've signed up to do this. If you want to sponsor me, raising money to help alleviate extreme poverty, then click here .