The Restory Retreat Centre

Photograph by André Parsons Be still Listen to the stones of the wall Be silent, they try To speak your Name. Listen To the living walls. Who are you? Who Are you? Whose Silence are you?                                                    Thomas Merton

Pa Frans op die swart stoel. Pa kuier vir die naweek. Hy was lanklaas hier en is nou veel beter as ‘n klompie maande gelede. Hy klim viets uit die kar en loop met ‘n vinnige stappie die huis binne na die stamperige rit van Wakkerstroom af. Hy val met ‘n sug in die swart stoel, vou sy benerige vingers oor mekaar, kyk om hom rond en sê: “Ek kan nie glo ek is hier nie.” Hy sit stil en kyk na ‘n “skop, skiet en doodslaan” fliek saam met George. So nou en dan staan hy op, loop kombuis toe en kom dan weer terug  en gaan sit. Die hoender staan en ontdooi op die kombuistafel. “Waar’s die aartappels wat ons moet skil vir die hoender?” vra hy. Of, “die vetkoek brand al.” Dit staan in 'n lou oond om te rys, maar sy lus hang al lankal uit daarvoor. Hy is permanent honger. Dalk maar as gevolg van die medikasie maar die onderliggende obsessiwiteit met kos bly maar huiwer en ‘n mens sien dit wanneer hy byna koorsagtig eet. Ek probeer al sy gunstelinge ingepas kry in so ‘n naweek. Gis

Images source: Kintsugigifts.com Ring the bell that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack, a crack in everything That’s where the light comes in                                                                                Leonard Cohen I know nothing, except what everyone knows – If there when Grace dances, I should dance.                                                                             W. H. Auden And God showed me that sin will be no shame, but somehow honor for humanity….. God’s goodness makes the contrariness which is in us very profitable for us.                                                                                       Julian of Norwich Kintsugi - the word means golden joinery – is the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics using resin and gold powder. Other metals like silver, bronze or copper were also used, even broken pieces from other c