I know it only seems five minutes since Christmas, but we will shortly be entering the season of Lent with its run-up to Easter.

For those who go to church, as well as those who don’t, it is often a time when people decide to give something up. Bearing in mind these individuals have long ago broken their New Year’s resolutions, it does make you wonder why they repeat the exercise!

As Lent was traditionally a time of fasting, many people still seem to give up foodstuffs like chocolate, cream cakes, cheese, alcohol and even cigarettes. I heard of one individual who decided to give up swearing!

Some young people have also taken the ‘Lent’ idea on board by deciding to give up using Facebook and Twitter for the 40 days. (I’m told it is much harder than having to forgo chocolate!) You might expect that I’d encourage any reader to follow their example and give something up for Lent, but you would be mistaken. Instead, I would recommend everyone take something up for Lent.

Naturally I would recommend something ‘spiritual’ but then that’s my job!

We all have busy lives, so busy we rarely have time to think about God – whether he exists or not; what life is all about.

Perhaps therefore, you could decide to take up reading the Bible; or praying; or going to church; or going on an Alpha course (or similar), during the Lent period.

In case you don’t know, Lent starts after Shrove Tuesday when you have eaten more pancakes than are good for you and runs through until the Saturday before Easter Day. A word of warning, however, having taken up some of the above recommendations, you might not want to give them up!