A Time and Place for Silence: Greving and Ortiz on Time and Solitude

With another year having passed—perhaps even sped by—and a new one underfoot, HeightsCast returns with a discussion of time and solitude with Mike Ortiz and Rob Greving. Together, Mike and Rob invite us to slow down as they unpack their two recently published articles on the Forum. Mr. Ortiz dives into Henry David Thoreau's cabin life and the importance of intentional times of solitude in our lives, while Mr. Greving considers our often uneasy relationship with time and the good of slowing down, even as the world speeds up. As we look forward to the new year with hope and anticipation, let us not forget to slow down and, in Mr. Greving's words, listen for the present moment. After all, you can't read a poem in a hurry. And if you are always in a hurry, you might miss the poetry of life. Chapters 1:45 Background to the articles 5:43 Thoreau's way of solitude: the path to a greater appreciation of the world 10:15 Never less alone than when alone 13:30 Time alone and listening for God 15:55 Silence and the capacity to attend 20:55 Having more that is worth less 22:55 Handling time gently 30:08 Times of leisure in the life of a school 32:30 Beyond life hacks: cultivating a disposition 40:56 Poetry, solitude, and time 45:13 You can't read a poem in a hurry 48:02 Slowing down in family life 53:00 The importance of not over-scheduling kids 57:15 Conclusion and a closing poem Recommended Resources Walden by Henry David Thoreau The World of Silence by Max Picard Living in Liturgical Time by Terence Sweeney "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost "Mossbawn": Two Poems in Dedication by Seamus Heaney Also on The Forum Thoreau's Cabin Life: Why It's Not Anti-Social to Savor Solitude by Mike Ortiz Handling Time Gently by Rob Greving The Freedom to Form Bonds: Kevin Majeres on Mindfulness and Attention with Kevin Majeres Forming Deep Workers with Cal Newport What Is the Difference between Free Time and Leisure? by Joe Bissex