Indeed, contemplatives look at the world like a child does. The monk is not sophisticated. He is simple. Like a child, he is fascinated by frogs, loons, trees, flowers and snowflakes. But there s another lesson at the sand dunes, and the students will be asked to write about it.
Students play mandolin, sing and tap dance.
After a while, Mother Tessa grabs a guitar and breaks into song, saying she s inspired by the temptations put before her this week. I will be no man s wife. Kate Henrioulle does an exuberant tap dance on a piece of plywood then stops to recite a quote from Englishman Gerard Manley Hopkins. This article, which originally appeared in The Denver Post on Nov. 22, is reprinted with permission.