Carnival, Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday – you recognize the words but may struggle to explain their significance. Each of these traditions is connected to Lent. Lent is a 40-day preparation for Easter. Since Lent is a period of restraint, some use Carnival as a final party before the disciplines begin. Since Lent often entails fasting in some measure, Pancake Day and Mardi-Gras (Fat Tuesday!) speak of the last opportunity to enjoy rich foods before the fast begins. After Tuesday comes Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent. It sets the tone to recognize Jesus’ death and resurrection by highlighting our own need for humble repentance. These words and celebrations, now woven into our language, have roots in the Christian calendar. But even as society has separated Christmas from its godly intent, so too some of these phrases have abused the meaning of Easter. So, should we abandon them because of their misuse? That would be a shame.

While I could dispense with Carnival, the other words carry important meaning at significant times. My own Christian heritage was largely unaware of these observances. We thought they belonged to other denominations and ancient practices. They highlighted moods we would rather avoid. “Don’t put ash on your forehead – celebrate the victory of Jesus! Don’t bemoan our mortality. We have a home in heaven!” We are quick to jump to the empty tomb and skip the season to remember why it was needed. But I have discovered the value of these 40 days for reflection. Even as Advent heightens my heart for Christmas, so Lent shapes my soul towards Easter worship.

That preparation is not automatic. Meaningful reflection doesn’t happen simply because a date appears on the calendar. But the calendar offers a grid and guide for my heart. I note that we use days and dates as rails to guide much of our life. We worship together on a particular day. We use calendared vacations for rest. There are days set aside for patriotism, romance, birth celebrations, remembrance of wedding vows, thanks to parents – we even have a National Pet Day! (Your dog knows it is April 11th.) It is human nature and need to align our lives with times and seasons. But we hesitate to do the same for our souls.

God established specific dates of worship and celebration for Israel. The Law had festivals and feasts to recall the works of God. Under the New Covenant, we are not tied to specific dates, but we remain human – even forgetful. We can benefit from the nudge of the calendar for spiritual reflection and focus. The Christian calendar has a long history within the Church. It’s been used for education, celebration and formation. There is wisdom in the heritage of believers who’ve been before us. If observance of Lent is a new practice for you, there are many resources online or printed material available. Our manner of Lent is less important than the heart of it. Ask God to pace with you for a fresh engagement of Christ this Easter.

Here are some suggestions.

• Think of Lent as a tithe. God already owns all our possessions and earnings, yet we tithe out of gratitude. God already owns our soul completely, but a 40-day period is a tithe of the year in which I turn my attention afresh to God. Is it obligatory? No. Is it helpful? All the time.

• Start simply. If Lent is a new practice, you may be tempted to try too much. It can be overwhelming. Rather than trying to practice every spiritual discipline, choose one exercise to maintain. You may want to address the length or consistency of your prayer time. You could choose to focus on Scripture reading or explore titles written by godly authors. You could decide to practice daily silence in God’s presence. Whatever you choose, simplicity is the best way to start.

• Accept your missteps. You may be someone who can begin a new habit without failure. Most of us are not. Over the weeks of Lent, there will missed days and waning motivation. Accept that and simply begin again. Lent is not about perfection or keeping score. It is a returning focus of heart, mind and soul to God.

• Take a receptive posture. We can fall into the trap of believing our habits and actions in Lent are vital. Of course, our actions and attitudes matter. But God’s actions matter more. Lent reminds us that spiritual growth is God’s work. We can only grow by His grace. Lent is a season in which we place ourselves in a posture of receiving His grace. We may set the sails, but the wind of His Spirit moves us Godward.