empty plate

Posted by Chris (South Jersey, United States) on 16 July 2008 in Abstract & Conceptual.

Today my wife is participating in an event called The 40 Day Fast - a 40 day rotation of bloggers that will be fasting, praying, and blogging about needs in the world and organizations that reach out to provide for those in need. Please visit and take a moment to read her blog (as well as the many others referenced at the 40 Day Fast site), and think of ways that you can get outside your box and make a difference in the world.

I am fasting today with my wife, and plan to use the little bit of hunger that I feel as a reminder of the many in this world who normally have an empty plate and who have to live with hunger day after day.

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed, cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
Isaiah 58:6-9

I hope that I can become a better photographer with the examples here on Am3 and by getting your feedback on my images.

I may not be able to reply to each of your comments - but they mean a lot to me and I thank you!

Please visit my wife's blog - The Noble Wife

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (7)

Anita from West Nottingham, United States

Chris: This is an excellent photo in and of itself, doubly so for the topic of fasting and hunger. I will visit your wife's site. World hunger is a huge concern of mine. Our current method of helping a little bit is by making financial contributions to an organization that provides micro credit--small loans to people, mainly women, to help them start and expand small businesses that can improve their economic condition.
Thank you for your post.

16 Jul 2008 10:10am

@Anita: Thank you Anita - micro loans to help out people around the world is a great way to help and I know there are wonderful organizations that provide that service. And what is amazing to me is that it doesn't take much to help - loans of as little as $25 can help out. We have sponsored children for years through World Vision and now my wife buys sheep through World Vision for people around the world (but you can read her blog for more details!).

Betty from New Jersey, United States

Excellent representation of the 40-day fast, I will visit your wife's blog.

16 Jul 2008 10:19am

@Betty: Thank you Betty......

rain girl from Delhi, India

gorgeous! seems so meaningful...

16 Jul 2008 10:39am

@rain girl: Thank you very much......

Tracey from White Hall, United States

What a great way to visually express your feelings about fasting. It is technically a wonderful photo, but above and beyond that it is teeming with meaning.

16 Jul 2008 12:08pm

@Tracey: Thanks Tracey - your kind words mean a lot to me. It is challenging sometimes to adequately convey a "meaning" with a photo, but that challenge makes photography (and working on this blog) so much fun....

Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States

This chokes me with tears, Chris. You and Jacquelynne have a commitment to be mirrored by thousands.

I deal with people four days each week, who avail themselves of our food bank at church. Tough times in this country are putting many in situations of need they've never felt before. We are only beginning to know what the hungry of the world suffer. I'll pay your wife's blog another visit! Blessings to both of you.

16 Jul 2008 6:59pm

@Judy: Thank you Judy for your kind words. As my wife said in her blog, most of us in the "Western" world cannot even imagine what it is like to be poor, where billions live on less than $2/day.

Steven from Chicagoland, United States

A photo that is so simplistic in nature, but the lighting, shadows and contrasts work well to add elements of interest.

16 Jul 2008 9:28pm

Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

I will definitely go to your wife's blog. Blessing on both of you, but more than that, that something very meaningful will come of it all. Some of us can't fast from food for medical reasons, but we can and should abstain from other things as well and give of our time and prayers so others will be blessed.

16 Jul 2008 11:37pm

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Pentax K100D
1/45 second
F/8.0
ISO 800
117 mm (35mm equiv.)