The Restory Retreat Centre

  Buttoning and Unbuttoning (1/2) The "smallness" of life can sometimes feel heavier than its great tragedies. A life needn't be "full" of tragedy. If it's "empty" of meaning, that emptiness can eventually become a crushing weight bearing down on the one living that life.  The Conversation Elements From The Conversation In contemplative spirituality, the "buttoning and unbuttoning" is resolved not by ignoring or sidestepping the task, but by changing the nature of the button. Instead of an obstacle to be overcome so that life can "begin," the act becomes life itself. Music ABBA's song  describes a life where the "buttons" are done perfectly, but the person inside is sleepwalking. Lord, We are not blind to the burden of the repetitive . The same plate, the same path to work, the same buttons, the same masks we put on. Please help us with the discouragement for “the next thing.” We know deep down that a task that is ...

  Knoop en Losknoop (1/2) Die "kleinheid" van die lewe kan soms swaarder voel as sy groot tragedies. 'n Lewe hoef nie "vol" tragedie te wees nie. As dit "leeg" van betekenis is, kan daardie leegheid uiteindelik 'n verpletterende las word wat neerdruk op die een wat daardie lewe leef. Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek In kontemplatiewe spiritualiteit word die "knoop en losknoop" nie opgelos deur die taak te ignoreer of te systap nie, maar deur die aard van die knoop te verander. In plaas van 'n hindernis wat oorkom moet word sodat die lewe kan "begin", word die daad die lewe self. Musiek ABBA sing hier van 'n lewe waar al die knope perfek vas is, maar die persoon daarbinne is 'n slaapwandelaar. Here, Ons is nie blind vir die las van die aanhoudende nie. Dieselfde bord, dieselfde pad werk toe, dieselfde knope, dieselfde maskers wat ons opsit. Help ons asseblief met die moedeloosheid vir “die volgende”. Ons weet ten ...

Incalculably Diffuse   The Conversation Elements From The Conversation The ending of Middlemarch is densely woven with layers of meaning that one can dwell on for a long time. The following authors are good guides that help us make it even fuller and deeper: Where Eliot speaks of “unhistoric acts”, Robinson in her book Gilead points to meaning that often falls outside the sphere of historians and is not proclaimed in news headlines - meaning that continues to reside precisely in the ordinary everyday. One of the inconvenient truths of Eliot's quote is this: the people who contribute the most often have no idea they are doing it. There is no strategy, or self-knowledge, or moral achievement in them. Only availability. Our influence is not always the result of what we do, but of who we are. The last line in Middlemarch remains shockingly honest: “rest in unvisited tombs.” No plaque or statue. Just a trail that continues in other people’s lives. Communities are not built by exception...

Onberekenbaar Verspreid   Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Die slot van Middlemarch is dig geweef met lae betekenis waarby mens lank kan stilstaan. Die volgende skrywers is goeie gidse wat ons help om dit nog voller en dieper te maak: Waar Eliot praat van “unhistoric acts”, wys Robinson in haar boek Gilead  op betekenis wat dikwels buite die sfeer van die geskiedskrywers val en nie in nuusopskrifte verkondig word nie - en juis in die gewoon alledaagse bly woon. Een van die ongemaklike waarhede van Eliot se aanhaling is dit: die mense wat die meeste bydra, het dikwels geen idee dat hulle dit doen nie. Daar is by hulle nie strategie, of selfkennis, of morele prestasie nie. Net beskikbaarheid. Ons invloed is nie eers altyd die gevolg van wat ons doen nie, maar van hoe ons is. Die laaste reël in Middlemarch bly skokkend eerlik: “rest in unvisited tombs.”  Geen gedenkplaat of standbeeld nie. Net ’n spoor wat in ander mense se lewens voortgaan. Gemeenskappe word nie gebou d...

   Avoiding  Mistakes The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ Wise words from an old Hasidic poem: Take special care to guard your tongue  before the morning prayer.  Even greeting your fellow, we are told,  can be harmful at that hour.  A person who wakes up in the morning is  like a new creation.  Begin your day with unkind words,  or even trivial matters —  even though you may later turn to prayer,  you have not been true to your Creation.  All of your words each day  are related to one another.  All of them are rooted  in the first words that you speak. ~ ❖ ~ Music The “deep river” feels like the current that carries you when you stop struggling. It’s not about change through effort, but through surrender to what really matters.  As always, with our love. George & Matilda

  Foute Vermy Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ Wyse woorde van 'n ou Hasidiese gedig: Take special care to guard your tongue  before the morning prayer.  Even greeting your fellow, we are told,  can be harmful at that hour.  A person who wakes up in the morning is  like a new creation.  Begin your day with unkind words,  or even trivial matters —  even though you may later turn to prayer,  you have not been true to your Creation.  All of your words each day  are related to one another.  All of them are rooted  in the first words that you speak. ~ ❖ ~ Musiek Die “diep rivier” voel soos die stroom wat mens dra as jy ophou om te spartel. Dis nie oor verandering deur inspanning nie, maar deur oorgee aan wat werklik saak maak.  Soos altyd met ons liefde. George & Matilda

  May You Make Mistakes The Conversation Elements From The Conversation ~ ❖ ~ Mama (Lena Younger) to Beneatha: "Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most?  When they done good and made things easy for everybody?  Well then, you ain't through learning – because that ain't the time at all.  It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself 'cause the world done whipped him so!  When you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right.  Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through  before he got to wherever he is." From "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry          ~ ❖ ~ Musiek A song that somehow just feels right here in the first week of the new year Along with much love we give you this blessing today: “I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - that Christ will live in you as you open...

Mag Jy Foute Maak Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek ~ ❖ ~ Mama (Lena Younger) to Beneatha: "Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most?  When they done good and made things easy for everybody?  Well then, you ain't through learning – because that ain't the time at all.  It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself 'cause the world done whipped him so!  When you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right.  Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through  before he got to wherever he is." From "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry         ~ ❖ ~ Musiek Sommer net musiek wat reg voel hier aan die begin van die nuwe jaar. Saam met baie liefde gee ons vandag vir jou hierdie seën: "Ek bid dat [God] deur sy Gees uit die rykdom van sy heerlikheid  aan julle die krag sal gee om innerlik sterk te word,  dat Christus deur die geloof in julle ...