T'is the season of Lent, a period of waiting and preparation for Easter, the holiest of Christian festivals.  We celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and his conquering of sin on our behalf with sunrise services, the Easter bunny distributing candy to all, and little girls in new hats, frilly pastel dresses and shiny white shoes.  But for the 40 days before the great celebration, we are instructed to reflect, to ponder and to apply the lessons of the life of Jesus, so that we can more closely follow in his footsteps and worship him.

One of the ways many Christians observe this period is by giving up something they value to honor and memorialize Christ's sacrifice for us.  It is intended as a noble action, a sharing of the pain Jesus experienced for us.

In practice, too often we give up things that we know are bad for us anyway, or without which we really can live quite nicely.  Television?  Many people live without it and never miss it.  Computers?  A website or forum to which you are addicted?  Chocolate?  Rock and roll?  Meat?  All are temporal.  None of them truly impact upon the quality of the internal spiritual life we are leading.  None of them impact on anyone else, either.  None of them resemble the kind of sacrifice that Christ made for us.

Each year I struggle with this during Lent, because it is my goal to worship and honor the one who gave his all for me.  I don't feel honorable making an inconsequential gesture in exchange for salvation.  In fact, it feels that I am diminishing the true gift.

Jesus has already made the sacrifice, so that I do not have to.  He did not take away from the world, or from my life, he added to it.  He brought something priceless to me and laid it at my feet - a gift, freely given, the greatest sacrifice of all.  It seems somehow almost insulting to pretend that 40 days without chocolate or makeup or some other temporal item could, in any way, mimic the sacrifices he has made for me.

In 2 Timothy 1:10 we read,"  ...but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."  (NIV)

Jesus brought life and eternal salvation to us.  I feel challenged to focus on his sacrifice and his gift by digging into The Word, rather than giving up something inconsequential.  I am inspired to follow more closely the commands he has given, instead of giving up things that do not matter into eternity.

There are many ways to engage yourself in communion with the Savior who gave his life for you.  I urge you during this time of preparation and penance to consider the sacrifices Jesus made for you, and to find your own personal way to express to him your gratitude and thankfulness for the irreplaceable gift of salvation you have been given.  Lent is not only a Christian season of the church, it is a personal journey to the cross.  Allow God to guide you, and the experience will be fulfilling beyond anything you ever imagined.  Such is the power of the Savior.

In this Lenten season, prepare yourself for the greatest gift of all.  The Easter bunny can only strew candy.  Jesus flooded our very souls with his light and grace.