It feels slightly ironic to be writing about harmony at a time when the world feels unsettled, and many are living with uncertainty and fear. And yet, perhaps it is in times like these that harmony matters most. Not as something distant, but as something we can begin to nurture within ourselves, allowing it to ripple outward as a gift to others.

As we head into Christmas week, I would like to remind you that it’s okay if you’re not feeling especially “Christmassy”, particularly if you are a person of faith.

“I think grief is a gift,” said my friend, agonising over the unexpected death of her brother. “Without the initial numbing sensation how would we cope with the anguish?”

I don’t often hear people describe the intensely painful act of grieving in this way. But I wholeheartedly agree with my friend.

Grief, though agonising, is a sacred gift.

They say the only certainties in life are death and taxes but I believe there’s another:

The certainty that life is filled with uncertainty