Wednesday last week saw the biggest contrasts human life brings for me...

I got news of a death and a birth.

I think death's are always more personal, always more immediate - simply because if they touch you by definition they meant a lot to you. Birth's are a promise of joy (and pain to come) they are a potential clear slate... though having had two children I can tell you that they are anything but clear - they are born with their own personality.

But the juxtaposition of birth and death is fascinating...

With one comes the inevitability of the other. If you are born you will die. That is one of life's certainties!

But death often surprises us. It comes too soon. It creeps up on folk who are too young to die. Surely...

With birth comes expectations. With birth comes a promise of something different. With birth comes the potential for new life...

Death and birth are so inextricably linked. Sorrow and joy - or joy for the afterlife gained and joy for the new life gained...