The Restory Retreat Centre

More About George If I want to tell more about myself, the very best might be to just start by saying "I love..." and then list things that I love. So: I love...... ....Tafelkop. The big world of which I am a part, silence and to walk. The Conversation ...time spent with my M. Where we talk for long stretches, and laugh, or are just quiet together for long periods of time. Elements From The Conversation ....our granddaughter, Ariana. Who loves books very much and keeps asking: "Oupa, tell me a silly story!" ....books. And dogs. And cats. And tea. ....a good conversation. Sculpting and woodwork. To write. ....poems. More so by the day. Basically impossible to pick a single one, but on my birthday, this one from Billy Collins. It talks about things one thinks about at 60. Design I pour a coating of salt on the table and make a circle in it with my finger. This is the cycle of life I say to no one. This is the wheel of fortune, the Arctic Circle. This is the ring of Ke

  Meer Oor George As ek meer van myself wil vertel, is die heel beste dalk om net aan die begin "Ek lief..." te sê en dan net dinge te lys waarvoor ek lief is. So: Ek lief....... ....Tafelkop. Die groot wêreld waarvan ek deel is, stilte en om te loop. Die Gesprek ...tyd saam met my M. Waar ons groot stukke gesels, en lag, of net vir lang rukke stil is. Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ....ons kleindogter, Ariana. Wat baie lief is vir boeke en aanhoudend vra: "Oupa, vertel vir my 'n silly storie!" ....boeke. En honde. En katte. En tee. ....'n goeie gesprek. Beeldhouwerk en houtwerk. Om te skryf. ....gedigte. Al hoe meer. Basies onmoontlik om 'n enkele een te kies, maar op my verjaardag, hierdie een van Billy Collins. Dit praat oor goed waaraan 'n mens dink op 60. Design I pour a coating of salt on the table and make a circle in it with my finger. This is the cycle of life I say to no one. This is the wheel of fortune, the Arctic Circle. This is the ring of Ke

Shining Like The Sun ~ ❖ ~ In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness....  This sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud. And I suppose my happiness could have taken form in the words: “Thank God, thank God that I am like other men, that I am only a man among others.”  It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race, though it is a race dedicated to many absurdities and one which makes many terrible mistakes: yet, with all that, God Himself gloried in becoming a member of the human race. A member of the human race! To think that such a commonplace realization should suddenly seem like news that one holds the winning t

Skyn Soos Die Son ~ ❖ ~ In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness....  This sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud. And I suppose my happiness could have taken form in the words: “Thank God, thank God that I am like other men, that I am only a man among others.”  It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race, though it is a race dedicated to many absurdities and one which makes many terrible mistakes: yet, with all that, God Himself gloried in becoming a member of the human race. A member of the human race! To think that such a commonplace realization should suddenly seem like news that one holds the winning tick

  After The Retreat “About eight days after saying this,  he climbed the mountain to pray,  taking Peter, John, and James along.  While he was in prayer,  the appearance of his face changed  and his clothes became blinding white.   Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep.  When they came to, rubbing their eyes,  they saw Jesus in his glory  and the two men standing with him.  When Moses and Elijah had left,  Peter said to Jesus, “Master, this is a great moment!  Let’s build three memorials:  one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  He blurted this out without thinking...  When they came down off the mountain the next day,  a big crowd was there to meet them....” ‭‭Luke ‭9‬:‭28‬-‭29‬, ‭32‬-‭33‬, ‭37‬ ‭(The Message)            The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music The title of the album is "Into Silence", but this track reminds one of an entry into life from the silence. As always, with our love.  George & Matilda

  Na Die Retreat “Ongeveer agt dae nadat Hy dit gesê het,  het Hy Petrus en Johannes en Jakobus saamgeneem  en teen die berg op gegaan om te gaan bid.  En terwyl Hy besig was om te bid,  het die voorkoms van sy gesig verander, en sy klere het helderwit geskitter.  Maar Petrus en die ander twee wat saam met hom was, is deur slaap oorval,  en toe hulle wakker word,  sien hulle sy glansende heerlikheid en die twee manne wat by Hom staan.  Toe die manne van Hom afskeid neem, sê Petrus vir Jesus:  “Meester, dit is goed dat ons hier is. Laat ons drie hutte bou:  een vir U en een vir Moses en een vir Elia.”  Hy het nie besef wat hy sê nie...   Nadat hulle die volgende dag van die berg afgekom het,  het 'n groot skare mense Hom tegemoet gekom.” ‭‭Lukas‬ ‭9‬:‭28‬-‭29‬, ‭32‬-‭33‬, ‭37‬ ‭AFR20‬‬                   Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek Die titel van die album is "Into Silence", maar hierdie snit laat mens dink aan 'n intree in die lewe in vanuit die stilte.

Eight Day Silent Retreat The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ This framed blessing of John O'Donohue hung against one wall in the cottage at the Retreat Center. Some days I just became quiet around it. A Blessing For One Who Is Exhausted When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic, Time takes on the strain until it breaks; Then all the unattended stress falls in On the mind like an endless, increasing weight, The light in the mind becomes dim. Things you could take in your stride before Now become laborsome events of will. Weariness invades your spirit. Gravity begins falling inside you, Dragging down every bone. The tide you never valued has gone out. And you are marooned on unsure ground. Something within you has closed down; And you cannot push yourself back to life. You have been forced to enter empty time. The desire that drove you has relinquished. There is nothing else to do now but rest And patiently learn to receive the self You have forsaken for the race

Agt-dag Stilretreat Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ In die kothuis by die retreatsentrum, teen die een muur, het hierdie geraamde seën van John O'Donohue gehang. Sommige dae het ek net rondom dit stil geraak. A Blessing For One Who Is Exhausted When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic, Time takes on the strain until it breaks; Then all the unattended stress falls in On the mind like an endless, increasing weight, The light in the mind becomes dim. Things you could take in your stride before Now become laborsome events of will. Weariness invades your spirit. Gravity begins falling inside you, Dragging down every bone. The tide you never valued has gone out. And you are marooned on unsure ground. Something within you has closed down; And you cannot push yourself back to life. You have been forced to enter empty time. The desire that drove you has relinquished. There is nothing else to do now but rest And patiently learn to receive the self You have forsaken for the race