I have something else to say.

.

Well, two things. Thing 1: I'm sorry I've been gone. Like anything in my life, I cannot breathe/live/move without Him, and right now, God and I are holding off on the put-your-life-on-the-internet thing. He said so. So, still shell-shocked by the move, I'm not blogging for a bit longer. The God-notion, coupled with the fact I've realized I'd make the worst famous person ever because I freak. out. when I get recognized or called "Miss Magnolia" (Really? That is not my name, people.) by a stranger. STRANGER DANGER--Ahh! that can't be good in the 9th largest city in America.

But here's the second.


And it's been a long time coming. And I may get railed over this. But, welp, it's not like that's ever stopped me.

I think that by discounting faith as our foundation, fraternities and sororities are neglecting not only our heritage but the ability of God to showcase His Gospel of love through us.

It drives me crazy every day at work. And it drives me crazy in general. Look at your Creed: You're either Christian in formation, or maybe Jewish. Yeah whatever--I dunno everyone's Creed. Believe or not ADPi's the only one I have framed. But ours bears the following line:

"...exemplifying the highest ideals of Christian womanhood."

We were founded at a Methodist college.

By Christian women (many PK's [preachers' kids]).

At the first college to grant degrees to women in the world.

Because they put a premium on the Biblical truth of equality between men and women.

So it matters. The faith component.

It mattered to Alpha Delta Pi back then.

It should today.

I think as international/national fraternities and sororities, we could be a force. Why aren't we responding to James 1:27? Why aren't we caring for orphans as a unit? Why aren't we loving the poor? Why are we, WOMENS' ORGANIZATIONS, not grasping on to the fact that our sisters are being abused and lied to as slaves and trafficked in some nations (even our own)? Why aren't we helping them??? I'm so thrilled we busy ourselves with leadership institute syllabi, and I'm not discounting the millions we raise for charity. But why aren't we really abiding by what our Creeds, our GOD, demands of us?

Why? Because we're being "politically correct." We're being "inclusive of other peoples' thoughts and feelings." "Ashlyn, times have changed since 1851," someone told me when I brought this up. Ya think? For the same reason you shouldn't get this former poli sci minor going on Constitutionality and our nations founders, don't get me going on this. Like our nation, we too have strayed, fellow Greeks. We've strayed because we instead decided to deign to culture and political correctness.

I mean, our founders never declared they were planting the church of [insert Greek letters here], but they did say the organization was going to back itself with a certain faith. A certain code of morality. A certain Love.

And to be frank, I think we should probably work on this.

Imagine what this generation could achieve.

Imagine how Love could be spread.

Right side, left side.

Photo courtesy of Lilie's.

I'm calling Drake University home this week again. "Ashlyn, there is a Bucksbaum Lecture speaker tonight named Twyla Tharp. Would you want to go?" You serious, Clark? Absofreakinlutely. I studied classical ballet for more than half my life. It's my heart and soul. Lehsgo, y'all.

She's short. And curt. And brilliant. She talked about creativity, and I was enthralled. Espeacially with two quotes:

"Dancers are wonderous creatures. They are silent forces of great beauty.

They hold deep faith with most impossible suggestions.

And at their best, they'll run through walls for you."

(Yes, snaps-in-a-Z-formation, I know I got that quote verbatim. Holla journalism majors. Couldn't be more true to life--I may not stand at the barre six days a week anymore, but do NOT tell me "impossible." Don't say that to a dancer. Relics of dance still haunt me, and that fierce-faith determination will always be with me.)

ANYWAY, then Twyla said this:

"All dancers have a right side or a left side. And I won't let them change my choreography to suit that. For two reasons. First, it's dishonorable to the architecture of the choreography. And secondly, they never learn about themselves."

Um, hello.

God calling.

Do you see that?! We have a right side. Or a left side. Me? I was always a leftie: higher developé, deeper penché, faster fouettés. Hated the right. I'd furiously scowl in the mirror at that right leg, push it deeper, demand more of it. "Stallings. Get OUT of the mirror." Okay, okay, okay. Fine. I really gotta sleep in a right split tonight...

So I'd try to do everything on the left.

But if that wasn't the choreography, I was screwed. But you can't force things. My ballet master would lean back in his chair. "Go. Plie. No, right foot front." "Foye, just lemme triple left once first for fun." (Silence. Foye raises his eyebrows at me. I should add there is zero room for disrespect in ballet.) "Ashlyn? Um, NO. Right foot. Now. Plie."

From Giselle. Ah, the glory days. For the dancers looking at my feet: They're bad. I know. But dangit I could act.

So I'd sigh. Sweat soaked leotard. Me. Mirror. And Foye. Who'd then start phrases like this: "Easy, killa. You can't force it, Stallings. Let your neck go. Left shoulder in faster. Easy. Don't force it. Let it happen."

Let it happen.

Let it happen because it's disrespectful to God's life-dance-choreography to ask to do the left side. Because maybe He wants to show me I can do the right side.

When Twyla spoke those words last night, God smiled and looked at me to see if I'd heard Him. I laughed with tears in my eyes and told Him I did. I'm the girl who kinda forces things. Relationships. Perfection. The job I'm trying to line up for post-ADPi land.

Read this in Jesus Calling last week, and I can't get it outta my head:

"Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda. If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time."

-  Jesus Calling, Sarah Young

Don't force it, baby girl. Don't force it. Accept one day at a time.

p.s. In other news, I bought her book because I wanted to meet Twyla. And get her autograph. And she wrote my name. :)