The Restory Retreat Centre

  5 Months In Gradually our eyes are learning the contours of our place . This is our business, here at The Restory: building fires. However, on our own we can't gather enough wood. The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation  Music By two things my life has been made more livable for me: the love I have given  and the love I have received. C.J Langenhoven                                With our love. And deep gratitude for the love we receive. George & Matilda 

  5 Maande Verder Geleidelik leer ons oë die kontoere van ons plek ken. Dit is ons besigheid, hier by Die Restory: om vure te bou. Op ons eie kan ons egter nie genoeg hout bymekaar maak nie. Die Gesprek  Elemente Uit Die Gesprek  Musiek Deur twee dinge  is my lewe vir my leefbaar gemaak: die liefde wat ek gegee het en die liefde wat ek ontvang het. C.J Langenhoven                                Met ons liefde. En met dankbaarheid vir die liefde wat ons ontvang. George & Matilda 

  Edge Walkers The Conversation Elements From The Conversation "...I see myself as an “edge walker,” wandering along the hemlines of the Christ tradition.  Perhaps you are an edge walker too.  Edge walkers occupy a thin space and are by definition a bit lonely.  Most people inhabit the vast spaces on both sides of edges.  But those of us called to the thresholds—the edges between— live in this thin space and recognize one another when we meet." Victoria Loorz: Church Of The Wild                 Music Artists are often edge walkers, be that poets, painters, writers or singers.  Leonard Cohen who grew up in the Jewish tradition, often taps into Christian themes and images as well. His "If It Be Your Will"  is a beautiful example of the way he approaches prayer and uses traditianal language and concepts, but interprets it in a fresh way and applies it in his life.   The poet, Emily Dickinson, does the same with the traditional blessing, that ties in beautifully with Vi

  Randlopers Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek "...I see myself as an “edge walker,” wandering along the hemlines of the Christ tradition.  Perhaps you are an edge walker too.  Edge walkers occupy a thin space and are by definition a bit lonely.  Most people inhabit the vast spaces on both sides of edges.  But those of us called to the thresholds—the edges between— live in this thin space and recognize one another when we meet." Victoria Loorz: Church Of The Wild                 Musiek Kunstenaars is dikwels randlopers, of dit digters, skilders, skrywers, of sangers is.  Leonard Cohen, wat in die Joodse tradisie opgegroei het, tap dikwels ook in op Christelike temas en beelde. Sy "If It Be Your Will"   is 'n mooi voorbeeld van hoe hy met gebed omgaan en aansluit by tradisionele taal en konsepte, maar dit nuut inkleur en in sy eie lewe toepas.   Die digter, Emily Dickinson, doen dieselfde met die tradisionele seën, wat ook mooi aansluit by Victoria Loorz se Wi

  Israel/Gaza And Our Image Of God The Conversation Elements From The Conversation If God Would Go On A Sick Leave: A Prayer For Peace Nowhere is there more prayer. The Nuns at the Holy Sepulchre. The faithful at Al Aqsa Mosque. The worshippers at the Wall. The call to prayer at dawn and dusk Warbling from the citadels. The church bells, The Persian trills, The passion spilled over texts From every major/minor religious sect. Nowhere is there more prayer than Jerusalem, Thanks be to God, Hamdilala, Baruch Hashem. And yet, I'm starting to think that it's You and not them, God, what's the point of prayer? If there's nowhere where There's more prayer, And terror reigns Then, Who's to blame? If suddenly, without a whisper goodbye, Jesus, Allah, Adonai, The three men they admire most All took the last train for the coast, And the Moslems got up from their knees And the Christians put down their rosaries And the Jews stayed their hands from kissing Their mezuzahs, And

  Israel/Gaza En Ons Beeld Van God Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek If God Would Go On A Sick Leave: A Prayer For Peace Nowhere is there more prayer. The Nuns at the Holy Sepulchre. The faithful at Al Aqsa Mosque. The worshippers at the Wall. The call to prayer at dawn and dusk Warbling from the citadels. The church bells, The Persian trills, The passion spilled over texts From every major/minor religious sect. Nowhere is there more prayer than Jerusalem, Thanks be to God, Hamdilala, Baruch Hashem. And yet, I'm starting to think that it's You and not them, God, what's the point of prayer? If there's nowhere where There's more prayer, And terror reigns Then, Who's to blame? If suddenly, without a whisper goodbye, Jesus, Allah, Adonai, The three men they admire most All took the last train for the coast, And the Moslems got up from their knees And the Christians put down their rosaries And the Jews stayed their hands from kissing Their mezuzahs, And everyone l

If Things Don't Work Out The Conversation Elements From The Conversation   Music We often come back to this: on the inner journey with its challenges, a friend or trusted guide can be of immense help.  “The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;  the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬                              ‬ As always, with our love. George & Matilda

As Dinge Nie Uitwerk Nie Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek   Musiek Ons kom telkens terug na hierdie waarheid: op die binnereis met sy vele uitdagings, is 'n goeie vriend of betroubare gids goud werd. “Die Here sal julle seën en julle beskerm;  die Here sal tot julle redding verskyn en julle genadig wees;  die Here sal julle gebede verhoor en aan julle vrede gee!” ‭‭Num ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭26‬                        ‬ Soos altyd, met ons liefde. George & Matilda

  Inside and Outside History of Tafelkop The advantages of being on the heal from the flu: One moves slower.  It’s been a week since that first scratchy feeling that signaled something’s up. Since, we’ve both had bad days and better days and then bad days again. Today is one of the better ones. It seems the flu viruses these days are not easily conquered. What seems even stranger is that a symptom seems to be a feeling of hopelessness, downright bone deep depression. So, this morning I decided to counter that by taking a slow walk to the old farmstead that we are starting to renovate. Skhumbozo and Zakhele are currently stripping walls of their numerous previous coats of paint. Everything is so beautiful right now. We’ve had some Spring rain and the new life budding from trees are almost too much for my watery eyes! The crabapple has shed the last of her blossom petals and has become a lush abundance of green with the most deliciously cool shade underneath. “It needs a bench,