40 Days: What Are You Giving Up for Lent 2013? - Lenten Sacrifices 2013

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest @DisneyBritton

"Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness" (1886- 1894) by James Tissot. 
Original work in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum of Art, NYC.

"Every year, it's harder," said a friend about making his sacrifice for Lent. I responded, "That's the point." The 40 days of Lent shouldn't be easy because it's for spiritual growth, and spiritual growth isn't easy (Actually 46 days). We "give-up" something that is an excessive attachment, and we can celebrate our success on Easter by "breaking-fast". Your attachment might be sweets, drinking, shopping, TV viewing, Internet surfing, etc., and by choosing something difficult, it's also a reminder to call-on-God for help. We do this for 40-days so we can emulate the journey of Jesus during his 40-days of Fasting in the desert. It is also a period to increase our giving, or shifting our spending priorities from excess to helping others. Each year, I ask my relatives and friends, "What are you giving up for Lent?" I invite you to add your response too.

My 2013 sacrifice to God and self:

1. Instead of enjoying the Sci-Fi movies, TV shows, and books that I'm addicted to, I will read sacred scripture linked to art everyday from a different faith, and write a reflection here about it.  
2. Instead of eating foods with sugar, including bread, I will exercise every day (7 days a week) for my energy burst. 
3. Instead of my daily Starbucks coffee, I will make a daily gift of that amount to a project on indyarts.org/power2give.