Reflection on Leisure by Mrs. Honig

By Mrs. Honig

Leisure. The mere word evokes meaning and images from a quiet retreat in nature to taking time apart from work to spend time with family and friends. The word “leisure” comes from the French word “leisir” meaning “to be allowed”. I was instantly struck by this definition. Do we “allow” ourselves the opportunity to experience wonder and beauty only during inactivity or can we find leisure in work.

Reflection on Leisure by Miss Leithart

On First Looking at a Keats Poem
By Miss Leithart

I remember a point in time at St. John’s, where I spent most of my summer attending the Graduate Institute, when I felt as if I had entered what some great thinkers have termed the “Great Conversation.” Having finished the last book of Homer’s Iliad, I was riding the waves of accomplishment when someone dear to me suggested I read John Keats’ poem “On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer.” I did, and I think I understood him when he wrote:

Reflection on Leisure by Mrs. Gorr

The vast majority of my time this summer has been spent with my daughter. This is time that I treasure greatly. Much of the time that we have spent together has been active, but we have also enjoyed more peaceful activities and worked in moments of leisure. Many times we have enjoyed reading together. I love books, and for me, spending time immersed in stories and words with my daughter is truly leisure time.

Reflection on Leisure by Miss Fleming

Is it possible to enjoy leisure while surrounded by thousands of tourists?

This is something I found myself wondering this past week while in Paris. Miss German, Miss Clevenger, Mr. Schultz, and Mrs. Stone wrote thoughtfully about ways to quietly enjoy leisure, by yourself or with your family. But what about when you are visiting a new location where you are a total stranger and fighting to survive? Can you enjoy leisure there as well?

Reflection on Leisure by Mrs. Krumwiede

Latin Makes Me Free: Silverpoint at National Gallery of Art
By Mrs. Krumwiede

Many make the argument that Latin is useful but this summer on a trip to the National Gallery of Art in D.C. with my family, Latin was more than just useful. Latin is for leisure and joy. Latin is for finding joy in higher things and it is also for freedom: the freedom to self-educate.

Reflection on Leisure by Mrs. Stone

By Mrs. Stone

This summer I set out to create moments of “leisure” for myself. I had it all planned out. I was determined to have leisure and have it to the fullest and in great abundance by scheduling after-work excursions to the park or pool, where I would sit and read a plethora of educational or theological books and journal about any deep and meaningful revelations I should have. I expected leisure time to simply occur during my week of vacation with my family in Michigan, where I thought, “With five unscheduled days, there should be no shortage of leisure to be had.”

A Pedagogy of Beauty

By Mrs. Winterstein

How is your summer going? Leisurely?

Thanks to the ILS PTL and board, I was privileged to attend this year’s Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education conference in Dallas, where the singing was loud as the ‘ya’lls’ were resplendent. Aside from wonderful Matins and Divine Service, there was very little leisure. There was, however, good work to be done, tenets of classical Lutheran education to be remembered and challenging ideas to be discussed.

Reflection on Leisure by Mr. Schultz

I love taking walks. With Ben in the stroller, we’ll walk to the library in Shirlington where we’ll spend anywhere from ten minutes to an hour (all depending on Ben’s mood). This usually is a daily occurrence. I find much peace and delight in my strolls, and it’s also during these strolls when I do a lot of my praying. At the library, most often I’ll read the newspaper, but occasionally I’ll pull a book off the shelf and read snippets of it. Especially when reading the newspaper, it can really put my own personal life into perspective.

Reflection on Leisure by Miss German

I awoke three minutes to the hour on Thursday morning, June 11th. My radio alarm clock was playing the local classical station. They had just enough time for one piece before the hourly news. The host announced: “Up next, Felix Mendelssohn’s Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, or “On Wings of Song,” in an arrangement for cello and piano."