Media vita in morte sumus

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....