1. Ask yourself: when I wake up on Easter morning, how will I be different? What am I preparing for?
  2. Ask yourself: is there something in my life that I tell myself I need, but I actually don’t? Can I give it up for a while?
  3. Ask yourself: is there something in my life – a habit, a grudge, a fear, a prejudice, an addiction, an emotion barrier, an indulgence – that keeps me from loving God and loving neighbour? How might I address this?
  4. Ask yourself: is there anyone in my life from whom I need to ask forgiveness or pursue reconciliation?
  5. More purple: incorporate the colour purple into your home and office, to match the liturgical colour of the season, and to serve as a reminder to keep you focused.
  6. Meditate: on Psalm 51, or Psalm 139, or Isaiah 58, or John 12:23-25, or the lectionary readings in the Lenten Journey devotional resource.
  7. Commit to memorising some Scripture: perhaps the Sermon on the Mount, or Isaiah 58, or Genesis 1, or the Magnificat, or 1 John 4.
  8. Research a great Christian of the past: perhaps Teresa of Avila, or Francis of Assisi, or Mother Theresa, or Oscar Romero. Be inspired by ordinary people of the past who were extraordinary servants of God.
  9. Pray a lot more: commit yourself to praying for a good stretch of time each day, for yourself, for your loved ones, for the church, for the country, and for the world.
  10. Go vegetarian: traditionally, Christians all over the world do this for Lent; it’s a great way to connect with the Church through time and space, it and enables you to become more mindful about what you eat.
  11. Fast: seriously, give it a go, from dawn to dusk on a day when you don’t have much on. Spend the day in prayer and reflection.
  12. Do a big spring clean: purge yourself of all unnecessary clothes, household items and knickknacks – and be ruthless! Donate them to those in need. It’s wonderfully cathartic.
  13. Go on a mini-pilgrimage: go for a hike in a national park, walk along a beach, swim at a river, or visit a beautiful old church for a day. Enjoy the silence.
  14. Go unplugged: try turning the stereo off in the car and at home, switching the TV off at night, and putting your phone down instead of checking Facebook and emails. You may need to find something else to do to fill in the time, like reading or drawing or praying or just being.
  15. Come to church: John and I will do our absolute best to create a space for you each week to engage fully in this season of reflection, penitence, repentance and preparation. Sunday services, Ecumenical Lenten Services, Claire and my Holy Week performance on the 12th April, the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services – are all there for you.