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Sister
Charlene Smith, FSPA
Life in Orbit with Thea (How Sister Thea
Impacted Me)
People who know me often hear me say that I
consider myself a fortunate person! A reason for
that assertion is that for thirty-five years my
life was in orbit with Sister Thea Bowman. We
met in the mid-1950s when we entered the
Franciscan Sisters of <http://www.fspa.org>
Perpetual Adoration. Though cultures apart --
she was the grand daughter of a slave from the
segregated state of Mississippi, I was the
daughter of Caucasian parents from the
homogenous state of Iowa -- our goals were
similar.
Our choice to major in English and minor in
speech and drama at Viterbo University <http://www.viterbo.edu>
put us, happily, in many
undergraduate classes together. We wanted to be
Franciscans; we wanted to be teachers; we wanted
to teach English. And we did! Being friends was
an added dollop!
From the beginning of our times together, it was
clear Thea was filled with extraordinary life
force! Her tremendous gifts propelled her before
eager students and pressing audiences across the
country, in the Caribbean and Africa. She became
a scholar of distinction, a master teacher, a
wise mentor, an authority on William Faulkner, a
soaring singer of spirituals and gospel music,
the subject of a 60 Minutes profile, an
acclaimed international speaker, an
intercultural awareness consultant, a beloved
friend to legions, a philosopher, a preacher, a
mystic, a prophet.
Thea died much too soon but her spirit stays
fresh, alive in the air for many. Her happy
laughter often sounds just over my shoulder. It
is a privilege to help tell the good news about
Thea! |
