The Restory Retreat Centre

  Love and Sorrow The Restory's program this week largely reflects the larger Easter themes. Over Easter weekend, starting on Thursday, the exceptional Pippa Jarvis from Embrace Village is hosting an Expressions of Loss retreat here with us, with the  focus on mourning. Others' stories of loss and grief unfold our humanity and touch us, precisely because recognition and compassion are part of the process. Over the 5 days that it lasts, we reflect on elements of the grieving process during the prayer times in the morning and evening, which beautifully connect with and give new meaning to the themes of Easter. The opening and closing prayers at the beginning and end of the times of silence, are the lines from a poem or other literature that highlight the theme of that day: Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Sunday Easter Monday On the last day of the retreat, we return to the prayers of the first day.   Before the start of the retreat, with us being alone here at Ta...

  Liefde en Hartseer Die Restory se program hierdie week reflekteer in 'n groot mate die groter Paastemas. Oor Paas-naweek  bied die uitsonderlike Pippa Jarvis van Embrace Village 'n Expressions of Loss retreat hier by ons aan met die fokus op rou. Ander se verhale van verlies en hartseer vou ons menswees oop en roer ons juis omdat die herkenning en medelye deel van die proses is.  Oor die 5 dae wat dit duur, staan ons tydens die gebedstye soggens en saans stil by elemente van die treurproses, wat pragtig aansluit by en die temas van Paasfees nuwe betekenis gee. Die opening- en afsluitgebede aan die begin en einde van die stilwordtye, is telkens net die reëls uit 'n gedig of ander literatuur wat die tema van daardie dag uitlig: Donderdag Goeie Vrydag Stil Saterdag Paassondag Paasmaandag Op die laaste dag van die retreat keer ons terug na die gebede van die eerste dag. Voor die aanvang van die retreat, met ons alleen hier by Tafelkop gedurende die Heilige Week, het die vr...

  Wonder "Wonder is the quiet knowing that the world is so much more than what we can see or touch. It is the practice of beholding—not just looking, but letting the beauty before us change us. Wonder is the antidote to the lie that everything is ordinary, that the sacred has abandoned us. Even in the midst of grief, even in the unraveling, wonder reminds us that we are held by something vast and tender." Cole Arthur Riley                 The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Molly down below Music The original is much longer, but Louis Armstrong would have said that this rendition encapsulates beautifully what he wanted to convey.  A Jewish blessing at moments of celebration or wonder:  Blessed are You, Eternal God, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this moment of wonder. With love. George & Matilda

Verwondering "Wonder is the quiet knowing that the world is so much more than what we can see or touch. It is the practice of beholding—not just looking, but letting the beauty before us change us. Wonder is the antidote to the lie that everything is ordinary, that the sacred has abandoned us. Even in the midst of grief, even in the unraveling, wonder reminds us that we are held by something vast and tender." Cole Arthur Riley                 Die Gesprek Elemente Uit Die Gesprek Mily Musiek Die oorspronlike is veel langer, maar Louis Armstrong sou sê dat hierdie weergawe baie mooi saamvat wat hy wou oordra. 'n Joodse seën wat saamgaan met verwondering:  Geseënd is U, Ewige God, wat ons aan die lewe gehou het, ons onderhou het, en ons tot by hierdie oomblik van verwondering gebring het. Met liefde. George & Matilda

Notes from a different drummer Learning the unforced rhythms of grace The practical How. In our previous post Strange companions we said that we'll follow it up by introducing paradox as well. True to our word, here is that introduction.  “Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded”; “Your mission is not to accept the mission. Do you accept?” or “Don't go near the water 'til you have learned how to swim” are humorous examples of paradox. A paradox (taken from the Greek para and dokein meaning “to seem contrary to”) is something that at first glance appears to be a contradiction, but looked at from another angle is not a contradiction at all. All fine and interesting, but what does it have to do with us? Everything. One of the major elements in the contemplative life and spirituality is a tolerance for ambiguity, uncertainty and being comfortable with paradox. For that reason much of its wisdom comes in the form of paradox: ...

“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”                                                                             G.K. Chesterton We are busy renovating our 104 year old house. The main focus at this stage is the bathroom. At the time the house was originally built people didn’t have inside bathrooms. They had an outdoor toilet and they usually washed in their bedrooms using a pitcher of water and a bowl. From time to time they would carry a tub into the kitchen, heat water on the stove and take a bath. No easy process!  That being the case you can see how, over time and with the development of ...