Day 10

I’m a diet Pepsi girl.

I don’t drink much soda. But sometimes I just have to have one. Since I don't have any soda in the house, that means I'd have to go out and buy some. But I "can't" because this is September.

So instead I . . .

• I put a dollar in my blue jar, but the craving’s still there.
• I’ve thought about how that soda is really BAD* for me, but the craving’s still there.
• I’ve thought about all those people who could REALLY use that dollar, but the craving’s still there.
  
  So what?

I took myself to the kitchen for a glass of water.

• On my way back to the computer I stopped and looked at the jar.
• I am blessed to have a dollar to put in there.
• I am blessed to have water – which is what my body really needs.

I am grieved that so many do not have this dollar or this glass of water.

I’m glad I had this craving since it gave me the opportunity to stop, count my blessings, and put the money to good use.

BTW The craving’s gone, but not the lessons learned.


* From time to time I have gallbladder problems. Ingesting soda aggravates those problems.

Day 9

The thyroid screen came back normal for one on thyroid medication. That wasn’t much of a surprise since Chip’s activity has increased dramatically in the past month. He’s acting like a frisky young man. He's spending way too much time out front - looking and watching.

What was a surprise is the bill.

Here’s the breakdown with health insurance:
Office visit - $0.00
Blood sample - $6.80
Vaccine - $0.00
Thyroid screen - $27.17
Thyroid meds (1 month) - $13.00
Total - $46.97

Not bad, eh?
The monthly health insurance premiums range from $25-$40 a month. It is recommended that the older clients buy the higher priced plan.

Too good to be true?
It is a true break down of a recent bill for my dog, Chip, a 4 pound, apricot, miniature toy poodle. His full name is Chip “Buff Dog” Symington. But that’s a story for another day.

Why can animals get health care at reasonable costs?*
And people can’t?
Isn’t it sad that my dog has health care and I don’t?

I can afford premiums and other health care costs for an animal but not for a person.

What’s even sadder is that this is a universal problem.
While I share in this universal problem, I do have access to low cost, effective, safe, health aids that millions don’t.

While I was paying the bill, I did think about all those who have no money, no choices and no health care.

I am blessed with health care options. I am blessed with some money. I am blessed with choices. You probably are too. But many, many, many people aren’t.

Tonia’s site (the originator of the 30 Days of Nothing) lists places where we can send money to help those people less fortunate than ourselves.

You can go here to read about some organizations that I choose (or have chosen in the past) to support.

In a nutshell they are . . .

• World Vision
• CAMA Services Opportunites
• Global Fellowship Opportunities
• Operation Christmas Child thru Samaritan’s Purse
  

You probably have other ideas/choices. In a previous post, Duker mentioned prayer. I agree, that is absoultely the best thing we can do. But as you pray, if God leads you to action, please do so.

Will you make a choice to help someone today?

*Do you think if I listed my race as Danish (as in Great Dane) the vet would accept me as a client?

Day 8

I had the privilege of studying most of the day.
Only three more lectures to listen to and three papers left to write. Wahoo.

While I spent my day concentrating on intellectual/spiritual stuff, how many people concentrated on survival?

Lord, help me to really know how much of a privilege it is to be able to spend time studying. Help me to use that time well. Then help me to use this information in a God-honoring way.

Day 7

This morning my (almost 5 yo) niece and I did school together.

Me: Let’s review from last week. How many fingers do I have?
E: 10!
Me: How many fingers do you have?
E: 10!!
Me: Here’s a tricky one. How many fingers does Miss Barbara have?
E: 10! (A high five SLAP is exchanged to celebrate all these right answers.)

This conversation was repeated with number of toes with equal gusto and high-fiving.

Until last week, it didn’t dawn on me that E had no clue as to how many fingers and toes people normally have. I just assumed she knew. But how could she, unless taught?

Unless I am deliberately taught how can I learn things outside my lifestyle? That’s the jewel in this 30 Days of Nothing. Tonia and others are living in a way outside their normal lives. And they are sharing these experiences, in words and pictures, with us.

Today Tonia and her children washed a basket of clothes by hand. All of them gathered round the hose-filled kiddie pool to swoosh and twist clothes in an effort to clean their garments.
Mary and her children also hand-washed clothes today.

Although I didn’t literally wash a basket of clothes by hand, I learned.

As I read the conversations Tonia and Mary had with their children, I learned.

I am grateful for this new learning.
I pray that I let it change me – somehow.

Day 6

Who's the impoverished one?

I spent most of the day studying I Corinthians with my DVD class. Two of the topics were about spiritual gifts and the role of women in the church. Divergent viewpoints were represented and encouraged to be shared. I was conscious of the fact that even the women had this same freedom of expression.

Religious freedom of expression is not the case in many parts of the world.

I am affluent in terms of stuff and opportunities. I can study and express “religion” out of my affluence rather than my need.

I wonder if that can also be a sad thing?

I’ve commented that often I don’t make prayer my first action.
Maybe I don’t because I have other options.
Maybe it’s because I don’t personally know the power of God or truly know the Scriptures.

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Matthew 22:29

Third World Christians don’t have the luxury of stuff.
Many don’t even have a New Testament Bible. All they have is God.
And if I’m hearing their stories correctly, they have a depth of relationship that I don’t have.

It may not be politically correct in their countries to have Chirstian faith, but they do.

It may not be safe to have Christian faith, but they do.

They are "religious" out of their need. And richer for it.
So who’s the poor one in this scenario?

Me. I’m the impoverished one.

Lord, help me to know that You, God, are enough. That prayer is enough. Free my grip on stuff and help me grab onto You and Your will for my life.

Day 5

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”*

Thoreau said that, right? Normally I’d do a Google search and I’d have that answer rather quickly.

I’ve realized with full force how much I depend upon the internet for . . .

1. Clairification – like who wrote THAT quote.
2. Information – Wikihow is on my homepage. The past few days the top article has been How to Survive a Long Fall. Since heights and I are not on speaking terms, I read the article. It’s best to be prepared. Or so I thought until I read the concluding words: People very seldom survive falls from heights of 100 feet or more, and mortality is high even at heights of 20-30 feet. It is always best not to fall at all
3. News - A new video game uses violence and murder to spread the love of Christ. The video game in question is Left Behind: Eternal Forces, it’s set for release in October, “The game pits the army of the Antichrist against born again Christians. Players are rewarded for winning converts or killing those who ally with the Antichrist.”
4. Entertainment – I like to read and lately it's blogs.

• Some are witty and some are thought-provoking.
• Some instruct in crafts or the homemaking arts.
• There are blogs of new friends and old ones too.
• Some blogs are wholesome, comfort food.
• Some are funny.
• Of course I read the blogs of colleagues.
• Theological and beautiful blogs also get my attention.
  

There are MORE to share but you get the idea.
A gal can easily spend all her discretionary time on the internet. And time that isn’t.

So to get back to the above quote by Socrates (I had to find out), I have been examining my life since this 30 Days venture started.

And? I spend too much time on the internet.

Life isn’t about clarification, information, news and entertainment.

• It’s about time.
• It’s about Christ.
• It’s about people.
• It’s about how I intersect those three in a meaningful way in the life God has given me.

Lord, help me to wisely use my time for your kingdom.

* I wonder if the unexaminers of life would agree? I could Google it to see what the masses say about this. These are the types of questions that frequently roam the neurological pathways of my brain.

Day 4

My life is more.

I'm constantly being reminded of how much my life does NOT constantly revolve around meeting my basic needs.

• I used the phone multiple times today to call upon lady friends to see how they are doing and to pray on their behalf.
• I used my stove and items from a full pantry to make festive foods for a dear niece's 9th birthday.
• I used this computer and internet to communicate with friends, do some research and then do homework.
• I took a walk for pleasure.
• I had time to sit and visit at my niece's party.

Lord, help me to use these blessings and activites wisely. Show me how I may help those whose sole activites do revolve around basic survival.

Day 3

Our Pastor's message focused on how to treat people.

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Today's message was one of the most practical sermon's I've ever heard on this topic.

So how does this relate to the 30 Days of Nothing?
No only do I have a responsibility to wisely use my affluence, I have a responsibility to wisely invest in the lives of others. Part of that investment is how I treat those in my immediate neighborhood and those whose neighborhood is far off.

Today I am meditating on how connected we all are.

Day 2

Living consciously takes thought. Maybe that’s a duh! for many of you, but not for me. Thinking about my spending habits and changing them is going to be harder than I thought.

I picked up my dd and her bf from the train station this evening. I failed as a mother because I didn’t bring food.

Being conscious of needs
My Grandparents (Carol and Ruby) would have taken a picnic dinner to the train station if they all weren’t going home right away. They didn’t like eating out because of the cost and because their homemade food was better taste- and health-wise. They were conscious of the needs of those around them and made time to meet them.

I was conscious of MY needs: homework, phone calls and cookbook entries. I spent my time accomplishing those goals.

So before we picked up my (soon to be NINE years old) niece’s pressie, we ate Swedish meatballs, and macaroni and chicken and chocolate mousse. The pressie (a real easel for a real artist) was a planned expenditure. The food wasn’t.

Day Two and I’m already a failure.

What did I learn?

• Take time to plan for the day's needs
• Factor in time to prepare meals
• Consider and follow how God would have me spend money this month

Day 1

Yesterday I wanted to RUSH and get my gift shopping done for the month. Like it would make some huge difference if I bought them yesterday instead of today or next week.

I realized I was getting legalistic about this. For me, the intent is to be thoughtful about my purchases and my life. Not just see how little I can spend during this month.

During this month I resolve to . . .

• Buy only necessities, except for the 2 birthday presents.
• Thoughtfully consider before I spend any money. And before I buy, see if I can substitute it with something I already have, if I can borrow it, or if I can live without it.
• Look over my bills and see where I can economize.
• Thoughtfully consider my tithing/giving.
• Thoughtfully consider my activities.
• Thoughtfully consider my eating.
• Keep a gratitude journal.
• I have other things in mind, but want to think about them before I make them public.

All this should have been done before and now I have the push to get me to do it. Thanks, Tonia.

Today I am most thankful for choices. While Tonia birthed this idea, I have the freedom to adapt it to my situation. And Tonia encourages that.

Check out Tonia's website if you'd like to see how others are personalizing the 30 Days of Nothing.