My best friend in the 4th grade was a member of a devout Catholic family – they never ate meat on Fridays, and faithfully embraced the Lenten season by giving up various and sundry things. Though as a Baptist girl I was often intrigued by the ways they practiced their faith, I never could figure out how my friend’s sacrificing gum for forty days honored the death of Jesus on a Cross. After celebrating Lent for myself over the past several years, I’ve begun to understand their Lenten practices a little better, and realize that like many religious rituals from my own past, the true nature and purpose of the event may have gotten lost along the way.

Lent actually has a colored history, with controversy about how it originated, how long it is to be and what a Lenten fast is to consist of. But today believers from all streams would agree that Lent is to be a season of soul-searching and repentance, a time to reflect and prepare our hearts for a fresh revelation of Christ’s redeeming love. I have come to love Lenten seasons for the opportunity they provide for me to pull away from the noise and busyness of the world, to change my normal patterns and focus more intensely on the reason for my existence – the glory of Christ, who gave His life for me.

Lent goes from Wednesday, March 9 through Saturday, April 23. Traditionally you skip Sundays, which leaves you forty days of focus. Here are some ways you can make the season meaningful:

CHOOSE A FAST:There are many ways to fast but the key is to let go of something that will enable you AND remind you to connect with Christ. Some possibilities are:

FOOD FAST: Give up a meal a day, or a day a week or fast from pleasurable foods for the entire season. These are only a few options, but whatever you choose, make sure it will serve to remind you to draw near to Christ (For example, if you give up sweets, every time you would normally have one or feel a craving for something, let that spur you to commune with the Lord.)

MEDIA FAST: You can choose to refrain from any of the following: TV, radio, internet entertainment, IPODS, unnecessary text messaging, Facebook, newspapers, magazines or books. Use the time instead to focus on the Lord and His Passion.

SPENDING FAST: Spend money only as truly necessary. Avoid going out to eat or buying drinks or snacks or new clothes etc. At the end of each week, estimate how much you’ve saved, and put it aside to use in ministering to the poor. Look for opportunities to give it away the next week (people on street corners, local ministries etc. As you do, focus on the reality that Christ came to bring justice to the downtrodden. As a man of sorrows, He is intimately and uniquely acquainted with their pain, and by His grace will enable you to share in this form of His suffering.

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL FOCUS: Choose a focus for the season. If you are not using Contemplating the Cross, find some other tool that will help you gaze at Christ in His final hours. You may simply want to read the Gospel accounts and do your own journey of contemplation. Buy a new journal that will be dedicated specifically to this season. Use it for writing your own musings, Scriptures, poems and quotes that are meaningful.

FAMILY DEVOTIONAL TIMES: Use Contemplating the Cross or other devotionals to draw your family together each day. You can read them aloud to each other, observing moments of silence and then taking turns praying. Give younger children sketch books and older children their own journals to allow them to participate by writing prayer or drawing pictures of what they have read about. Help your children learn the beauty of silence and contemplation – it will be a treasure they desperately need as they encounter the ever increasing noise and din around them.

CREATIVE CONTEMPLATION: Look for fresh ways to interact with the Lord.

Make a playlist of songs on the Cross to listen to throughout the day. Click here if you’d like to listen to one I’ve put together on youtube.

Buy a sketchbook and some drawing pencils and draw as a way of worship. I am no artist, but have discovered that sketching scenes from the Cross lead me to a deeper place of contemplation. And I know that my Creator God is delighted at my feeble attempts at art, plus they are secrets we alone share!

CONTEMPLATE IN COMMUNITY: Form a small group who will share the journey with you weekly or more often.