New leaves have sprouted on the same stem as the dying rose bud in today's photo. They seem to be thriving. The juxtaposition of life and death (new leaves; dead rose bud) reminded me of an old liturgical phrase, one that I think is used at funerals: "In the midst of life we are in death".
This liturgical text was rendered as a hymn by Martin Luther -- in English translation here: "In the Midst of Earthly Life (snares of death surround us)". Like the death and new life that I see in my flower, the hymn sets death and its woes against Jesus. Jesus died to give us new life; Jesus died to "save us lest we perish in the bitter pangs of death".
All these thoughts, simply from new leaves sprouting on the same stem as a dying rose bud....
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