For those of us in the Christian tradition, we are in the most solemn season of the year – Lent. Lent has been traditionally used as a 40-day preparation for the celebration of Easter (this year on April 4
th). A time of forty days is chosen because of the story of Jesus time in the wilderness preparing for his work and ministry. Lent today is particularly focussed on the disciplines of Fasting, Praying, and Almsgiving (charitable service). It has become quite common to ‘give something up’ for Lent as a kind of fasting, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, smoking or the like, but it’s not required. In fact I think that this year, it feels like we have already given up so much of our ‘normality’ that it’s like we’ve been in Lent for a year now, and giving up something else could be completely unnecessary, or even unhelpful.