This rich metaphor is about transformation and transcendence. I also have a need to tell you that some of this teaching is not easy or fun. I often have to remind people of all ages that it is not easy to learn to listen or share, to appreciate other people's ideas, to have your negative behavior challenged, to learn about compassion, collaboration and cooperation. Teaching from the heart has to do with sharing oneself and in getting to the essence of critical issues. Both are essential for the nourishment of religious growth.
Education is religious.
It is about calling forth, drawing out, it is about revering that which is known and that which is about to be discovered. To revere is to recognize the sacredness of the educational drama and its participants. This kind of teaching anticipates the unexpected and responds to it. Maria Harris puts contemplation as the necessary foundation for a life of faithfulness. I believe that all of us grow best under these circumstances.