Lent can often be seen as a sad time for Christians, a time of Solemnity and gloom.

But, for me Lent is a chance to take stock of my life, to stop and think, as opposed to being constantly ‘busy’.

Lent gives us a chance to listen, which can often be the hardest thing to do. When I listen I can often interrupt, complete people’s thoughts, I find it even harder to listen to God.

I don’t think that God is just limited to the sacred scriptures, but that God is always speaking, through music, art and simply through human acts of compassion.

Regardless of how well or poorly we live through the discipline of lent, Easter will come as assurance of God’s faith in humanity, without condition and without exception.

Louisa Stirland, 15, chorister at Blackburn Cathedral and BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year