The Restory Retreat Centre

Spirituality In Conversation With Einstein The Conversation Elements From The Conversation Music Originally sung by Coldplay, this song is actually about a lover who tries to be a scientist in his efforts to determine why a relationship just isn't working. Even the greatest scientists have not yet been able to come up with a formula for that aspect of being human. And a side note: Einstein's own love life was also complex. In 2017, on our way to a Living School symposium in Albuquerque in the USA, we ran into Einstein at the airport in Frankfurt. With our love. Which also travels at the speed of light. George & Matilda  

Photograph by Hanna Jacobs In our consumer society it might be a challenge writing an ad for contemplation*. I imagine it going something like this: Do not go the contemplative route if you want absolute control over your life and do not like surprises. We are not in a position to answer questions like “What is this going to ask from me?”; “Where will I eventually end up by practicing this?” This is definitely not for you if you are looking for a tame, predictable God and you do not like your boat to be rocked. Maybe you are a person loving life’s comforts in general and comfort zones in particular. In that regard you find a religion where your basic cultural values, ideals and yard sticks are maintained with a gospel layer laid on top of it ideal. If that is the case, steer clear from this. It is also not for you if you want to continue with business as usual. The contemplative life will change you. You are going to become you. Maybe that is exactly the one thing that yo...

The road leading to Barrowfield. Photograph by Ralie du Preez At one stage, while renovating our bathroom, we had no bath, basin or shower. After a day’s work we took our toiletries, went over to Johan and Debbie, our neighbours, and cleaned up. One evening I washed myself in a bucket under the stars. For outsiders it might have looked as if everything was in a shambles with little hope of a decent result or at least a returning order. All we needed was a sign reading, “Under Construction”.  Spiritually I have use for such a sign as well. I am under construction. For years now, I haven’t found nourishment in business as usual where religion was concerned. All the traditional pillars that held that roof in place became stumbling blocks for me instead. I experienced it as being: - sentimental, - fear-based,  - rooted in a sense of merit despite the lip service given to terms like grace and the love of God,  - sepa...

Georges de la Tour - Magdalen with the smoking flame c. 1640 This morning I read this daily meditation by Richard Rohr: Before you open the Gospels, ask each time, What is the question that Jesus is trying to answer? Then say, Lord, put in my heart those questions. Make me ask the right questions. Jesus answers people who are asking the right questions. If the Gospel is not an answer to the world anymore, it’s perhaps because the world is not asking the right questions. The world is saying, How can I be making $40,000 by the time I’m forty? Our country is obsessed with that question. Yet Jesus says it’s a false question. He in fact says it’s an utter lie, and it’s all going to pass away. Unless you move deeper into asking his questions, you will always get the wrong answer – especially wrong because it will look religious. Put into my heart the right questions Lord. And please, have patience, for I think I tend to ask the false ones. The ones that’s all about me. I h...