The Restory Retreat Centre

  God, And The Place Where I Live Our voices are so thick and scratchy from bad colds that we were unable to make a recording this week. However, we hope to still do justice to this important theme of the place where we live, our home, yard, environment, our space, wherever it is, as the space where God is experienced. Where God is. The more intimately we engage with this space in all its shades and seasons, the more intimate the bond with God becomes. Wallace Stevens once said: "We live in the description of a place and not in the place itself." It cannot just be a superficial experience, a description. We must enter into the fibre of our place. A couch potato approach will not do the trick. You have to be on ground level: Where does the rush grass sprout after the heavy rain? The Black Sparrowhawks have been quiet this year. Why? Does anyone have any idea how many species of grass there are? Why do the fountains bubble up in those particular places at the foot of Tafelkop? ...

  God, En Die Plek Waar Ek Bly Ons stemme is só dik en krapperig van erge verkoues dat ons nie hierdie week 'n opname kon doen nie. Ons hoop egter om steeds reg te laat geskied aan hierdie belangrike tema van die plek waar ons bly, ons huis, werf, omgewing, ons spasie, waar dit ook al is, as die ruimte waar God beleef word. Waar God is. Hoe meer intiem ons met hierdie spasie in al sy skakerings en seisoene betrokke raak, hoe intiemer raak die band met God. Wallace Stevens het by geleentheid gesê: "We live in the description of a place and not in the place itself." Dit kan nie net 'n bolangse belewenis, 'n beskrywing, wees nie. Ons moet tussen die weefsels van ons plek ingaan. 'n Rusbank-benadering gaan nie die ding doen nie. Die belewenis en ontdekking moet op grondvlak gedoen word: Waar slaan die biesiegras uit na die baie reën? Die Swartsperwers was vanjaar stil. Hoekom? Het enigiemand 'n idee hoeveel grasspesies daar is? Hoekom borrel die fonteine juis ...

  Spiritual Direction  “ What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.  “Teacher,” the blind man answered, “I want to see again.” ‭‭                                                                                             Mark‬ ‭10:51‬ ‭(GNB) The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation "The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it."                                                   ...

  Geestelike Begeleiding  Jesus vra vir hom: “Wat wil jy hê moet Ek vir jou doen?”  “Rabboeni,” sê die blinde man vir Hom, “dat ek kan sien.” ‭‭ .                                                                                       Mark ‭10:51‬  Die Gesprek  Elemente uit die gesprek "The assumption of spirituality is that always God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what God is doing so that I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it." .                                                           ...

Notes from a different drummer Learning the unforced rhythms of grace The practical  How Soul nurturing Soul friendship (Spiritual direction) "It is easier to find guides, someone to tell you what to do, than someone to be with you in a discerning, prayerful companionship as you work it out yourself. This is what spiritual direction is.”                                                                      ~ Eugene H. Peterson In the previous posts Spiritual Direction - 1 , Spiritual Direction - 2 and Spiritual Direction - 3 we've dealt extensively with the subject of spiritual direction. (See also the label heading Spiritual Direction that leads to other posts that touches on the subject). Here, we are merely indicating its importance in the process of Soul Nurturi...