My dad and I live together on the farm. Most of the time we only have each other as company. He is 78 years old, his short term memory is very bad, for all practical purposes he made the days and places of his youth his home and he is unable to grasp modern concepts like Google, email, or blogs. Spiritual direction is Greek to him and I am unable to convey to him the importance writing has for me. Something that cannot be welded or turned in a lathe, or measured or calculated and for which you do not have to wear an overall in his eyes does not count for work. There are conflicting emotions within me where my father is concerned. Quite often I am frustrated out of my wits. Our conversations are repetitions of well worn phrases. First thing in the morning: “What’s the weather like?” or “Beautiful morning, isn’t it.” Watching him where he is pouring tea into our cups I wait for the familiar: “There are still left if you want some more.” Every time the washi...
The Restory is a Retreat Centre nestled against Tafelkop, a singular mountain head near Wakkerstroom, South Africa. Here we live a simple life as contemplatives. It is a place of re-connection: with ourselves, people, Nature, Silence and Creativity. Our retreats are aimed at this. Our conversations, writing and art centre around the univocity of life. We need a place that reminds us that we are all one. The Restory hopes to be such a place and space.