While everyone knows about Easter Sunday, the days leading up to Easter are less widely acknowledged. Christian traditional practices do not start the celebration of Easter on Sunday, but rather forty days prior, beginning with Ash Wednesday. These forty days are known as Lent, and each day has instructions on how to prepare for the coming of Easter, including fasting, ceremonies, sacraments, and more. 

You may be asking, why does this matter?

While Lent is not believed to be a necessary Christian practice by all, there are impactful lessons we can gather from the tradition of Lent. Instead of merely allowing a holiday to pass by, it is beneficial to take time to understand why you are doing what you are doing. Otherwise, traditions are merely items to check off a list, and holidays are just another day off work. Being mindful brings meaning to seemingly regular life activities. Being intentional during and in the lead up to holidays gives you the opportunity to reflect on where you are, the events of the past year, what you can grow in this year, and more. Mindfulness and intentionality give holidays the opportunity to encourage and grow you, rather than bore you or bring you stress. 

This Easter, we encourage you to take time to process the reason for why you celebrate, and revel in the hope this season brings. After all, the resurrection of a Savior and the conquering of death is something worth taking time to celebrate! 

1 Peter 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

Revelation 1:17-18: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he put his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, but look! Now I’m alive forever and always. I have the keys of Death and the Grave.”