The theme for this year's 30 Hour Famine is "Love Hungry". Because the truth is that it's not that hard to love when it's easy. It's not that difficult to love when it's comfortable and it doesn't cost us anything. But the whole purpose of the Famine is to learn to identify with other people's struggles and hardships and to learn to love when it's difficult... when it costs us something. And that's exactly what Jesus calls us to... to not only love when it's easy and comfortable but to learn to love when it's difficult and painful... when it costs us something.
I'm so proud of all the kids who have stepped up to the plate and volunteered to go without food for 30 hours and to love through their hunger. But this project isn't just about going without food to identify with others but to raise awareness and support so that we can change the circumstances for so many people that live in the reality of hunger every day. It's easy for us to throw a couple extra dollars in the jar and pat ourselves on the backs for doing a good thing. And don't get me wrong, those extra dollars make a huge difference and change lives, but is that really a sacrifice? Does that really capture the essence of "Love Hungry"?
So I'm asking you today to consider what sacrifices you can make to participate in changing the reality of hunger for people all over the world. Just $30 will feed a child for an entire month and in many cases provide sustainable food sources for an entire family for the rest of their lives... that's $1 a day!
I don't know about you but my family goes out to eat usually once every week or two and we spend at least $30 for the 5 of us. Perhaps we could sacrifice that meal for a week and eat at home, and know that by doing so we have saved a child's life for a month and maybe even for a lifetime.
Perhaps you go out to lunch every day while you're at work. Maybe for the next week or so you could pack a lunch and take that money and donate it to the Famine.
The possibilities are endless! Be creative! But I'm begging you all to dig deep during these final days of fundraising for our 30 Hour Famine and learn to "Love Hungry".
If you'd like to make a tax-deductible online donation to our group for the 30 Hour Famine, visit our team website at http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/30HourFamine/30HourFamine?team_id=11443&pg=team&fr_id=1310.
May God bless you richly for the sacrifices you make!
