Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims,
Today is the feast day of Sister Thea Bowman, an amazing woman whose vibrancy still radiates to us today, calling us to shine our lights in a world that is often hard to bear. Even in the midst of a slow and painful death from cancer, she embodied joyful living, knowing that joy and delight must be cultivated in the midst of injustice and suffering.
These last few months we have been creating a resource and sharing it with our Sustainers Circle. For each of our dancing monk icons (created by the wonderful Marcy Hall) we are developing a resource for creativity and prayer. Our amazing program coordinator, Melinda Thomas, is writing the creative invitations and prayers for these reflections. Next year – as we celebrate our 20th year – we will be formatting all 42 of these into a book with full color icon pages and ways to joyfully engage each dancing monk.
Here is the one for Sister Thea:
March 30th – Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1990)
I want to live until I die.
Born in Mississippi, Thea Bowman converted to Roman Catholicism at the age of nine years old and later joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Thea earned an MA and PhD in English. She was a teacher, a scholar, and an evangelist. She was instrumental in creating an African American Catholic hymnal and the foundation of the National Black Sisters Conference. In her later years, Sister Bowman became a much sought-after speaker on spirituality and faith and was known for her joyous, vibrant spirit and love of music and dancing as a spiritual practice.
Sister Thea Bowman invites you to consider:
What brings you the fullness of life?
Creative Invitation
“This Little Light of Mine” was one of Sr. Thea Bowman’s signature songs. Search online, through a music app, or your own collection for a recording of this song. (Consider this version from the 100 Voices of Gospel). As you listen, invite your body to move in response to the playful tune. Maybe your hands clap along, maybe you dance, tap your feet, or sing along. Notice what inner state this song inspires. Consider sharing it with a trusted friend or family member.
Prayer
Illuminating God, you have given each of us a light in our hearts. In the chaos of the world it is easy to forget that we have gifts to share. Like Sr. Thea Bowman we are called to offer our unique time and talents. When life feels dim, awaken our vision to the light of others working for justice and peace. As we step into our own luminosity, our radiant hearts shine like beacons for no other purpose than joy. Even so, we know that when we stand in our light, we invite others to experience their own jubilation. We dance together in your shimmering Love.
“I Will Live Until I Die” Musical by ValLimar Jansen
In February we offered a Zoom showing of the musical “I Will Live Until I Die” written and starring ValLimar Jansen. The recording is of a live performance from Seattle in 2024 produced by ValLimar and our own Betsey Beckman. A number of you have asked if there is a way to share this recording with the community. I am pleased to announce that we have put together a procedure to offer one-time showings on a donation basis directly to ValLimar shares this rich expression while protecting the artistic integrity of her work. If you are interested in bringing Sr. Thea to your community please email us.
With great and growing love,
Christine
Christine Valters Paintner, OblSB, PhD, REACE
Dancing Monk Icon © Marcy Hall
