The Restory Retreat Centre

Burden or Blessed? The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music The quote by Alasdair MacIntyre states: “Acknowledgment of dependence is the key to independence.” This is an important concept for us. We often assume that we are only truly free or successful when we need no one—as if we ought to be able to handle everything ourselves and meet all our own needs. But perhaps something different happens when we begin to acknowledge our dependence. We might then discover a deeper kind of freedom—the freedom to receive, to trust others, and to stop trying to carry everything alone. The following song, “Nothing but Everything” by Jon & Roy, speaks to that shift. It is about surrender—entrusting yourself to love and connection. It is also about discovering that you do not necessarily end up with less when you stop trying to control everything yourself. You might just discover what truly matters. Feel free to listen to it as a form of meditation on dependence, belonging, and grace...

  Las of Geseënd? Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Musiek Die aanhaling van Alasdair MacIntyre sê: “Acknowledgment of dependence is the key to independence.” Hierdie is vir ons ’n belangrike gedagte. Ons dink maklik dat ons eers werklik vry of suksesvol is wanneer ons niemand nodig het nie. Asof ons alles self moet kan hanteer en in al ons eie behoeftes moet kan voorsien. Maar miskien gebeur iets anders wanneer ons ons afhanklikheid begin erken. Miskien ontdek ons dan ’n dieper soort vryheid — die vryheid om te ontvang, om ander te vertrou en om nie alles alleen te probeer dra nie. Die volgende liedjie, “Nothing but Everything” van Jon & Roy, sê iets van daardie beweging. Dit gaan oor oorgawe, om jou aan liefde en verbondenheid toe te vertrou. En dit gaan ook oor die ontdekking dat jy nie noodwendig minder oorhou wanneer jy ophou om alles self te probeer beheer nie. Dalk ontdek jy dan juis wat werklik belangrik is. Luister gerus daarna as ’n soort meditasie oor afhanklikhe...

  More Than Ourselves The Conversation Wendell Berry has been at the forefront of our thoughts these past few weeks. Today, we take one of his remarks - or observations - that surfaced in last week’s blog a little further. It is easy to live within the narrow confines of our own thoughts, needs, and plans, as if we were the centre of reality. Yet real life - and especially true growth - begins when we realize that we are not alone; that we do not learn on our own how to become better, wiser, and more fully human. To love is rarely a matter of romantic seclusion. Rather, it is the grueling, beautiful awakening to the reality of something - and someone - other than oneself. We are not shaped in a vacuum. The people with whom we live - with all their imperfections and the unexpected burdens they place upon us - often become our finest spiritual guides. Through them, we are slowly liberated from our self-absorption. This interconnectedness extends beyond our fellow human beings. It als...

  Meer As Onsself Die Gesprek Wendell Berry is die afgelope paar weke voorop in ons gedagtes. Vandag neem ons een van sy opmerkings of waarnemings wat in verlede week se blog opgeduik het bietjie verder. Ons leef maklik in die eng ruimte van ons eie gedagtes, behoeftes en planne, asof ons die middelpunt van die werklikheid is. Maar werklike lewe - en veral ware groei - begin wanneer ons besef dat ons nie alleen is nie; dat ons nie op ons eie leer hoe om beter, wyser en meer volledig mens te word nie. Om lief te hê is selde ’n romantiese afsondering. Dit is eerder die uitmergelende, pragtige ontwaking dat iets en iemand anders as jouself werklik is. Ons word nie in ’n vakuum gevorm nie. Die mense met wie ons leef - met al hul onvolmaakthede en die onverwagte laste wat hulle op ons lê - word dikwels ons beste geestelike gidse. Deur hulle word ons stadig losgemaak van ons selfbeheptheid. Hierdie verbondenheid strek verder as ons medemens. Dit omvat ook die aarde wat ons dra: daardie o...

  Wendell Berry A Simple, Exceptional Man The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Just Wendell Berry Music Wendell Berry’s hope is neither hasty nor clamorous. It grows slowly out of one’s relationship with a place, with other people, and with the simple act of living. Gregory Alan Isakov’s "The Stable Song" conveys something of this return home—not to a perfect world, but to a world in which we can once again be present. Lyrics of The Stable Song: Remember when our songs were just like prayers Like gospel hymns that you caught in the air? Come down, come down sweet reverence Unto my simple house and ring And ring Ring like silver, ring like gold Ring out those ghosts on the Ohio Ring like clear day wedding bells Were we the belly of the beast or the sword that fell? We'll never tell And come to me clear and cold On some sea Watch the world spin in waves Mad machine Now I've gone crazy, couldn't you tell? You threw stones at the stars, but the whole sky fe...

Wendell Berry 'n Eenvoudige, besondere man Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Sommer net Wendell Berry Musiek Wendell Berry se hoop is nie haastig of luidrugtig nie. Dit groei stadig uit ’n mens se verhouding met ’n plek, met ander mense en met die eenvoudige handeling van leef. The Stable Song van Gregory Alan Isakov dra iets van hierdie terugkeer huis toe — nie na ’n volmaakte wêreld nie, maar na ’n wêreld waarin ons weer teenwoordig kan wees. Lirieke van The Stable Song: Remember when our songs were just like prayers Like gospel hymns that you caught in the air? Come down, come down sweet reverence Unto my simple house and ring And ring Ring like silver, ring like gold Ring out those ghosts on the Ohio Ring like clear day wedding bells Were we the belly of the beast or the sword that fell? We'll never tell And come to me clear and cold On some sea Watch the world spin in waves Mad machine Now I've gone crazy, couldn't you tell? You threw stones at the stars, but t...

Spring Afternoon Open your windows. Feel the sun. Cherish the colour. Spring is in the air. With our love. George & Matilda  

  Lente-agtermiddag Maak jou vensters oop. Voel die son. Waardeer die kleur. Lente is in die lug. Met ons liefde. George & Matilda