Got It Going On by Stephanie Perry Moore Page A

principles.
    Many in the organization particularly believed Christianity had used more venom, more nastiness than truth and love. If God didn’t want me caught up in all that, would I be okay with His decision? That’s what I felt something inside me was asking. I guess it had always been there, but again it was all new to me. I didn’t know why I was wrestling with myself. I was now at a crossroads. Would I trust God with whatever He gave me, or would I continue to be caught up in needing to have it my way? Then it became crystal clear that I was getting a message from some internal force. Go talk to Dr. Garnes yourself. Share with her your heart. See what happens.
    Sam ran back in the room. “Cassidy, we’re waiting on you, girl. And we need you. Everyone is tripping. We feel we’re messed up either way.”
    â€œWell, don’t let them stress too much. Just stay in the car. I need to go check on something real quick,” I said, dashing around my girl.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Sam asked.
    I didn’t want to tell her, because I didn’t know how the conversation with Dr. Garnes would go. I surely didn’t want anybody putting all her hope on me.
    I knocked on Dr. Garnes’s hotel door. As soon as I knocked, I walked away, too nervous. I didn’t get too far, though, because she answered.
    â€œCassidy, you okay? Your whole face is stressed. You having a relapse or something? You need to talk?”
    â€œNo, doc. I just came, on behalf of my line, to ask you to please give us another chance. We can’t blame anyone but ourselves. We all want to be a part of Beta Gamma Pi so badly. Whatever we were asked to do, we would do. I know we’ve lost three girls on our line because they were participating in hazing. One could consider that we did the same thing. But we want to be here for Alpha chapter. We want to become Betas to change the system. We want to stand by the motto and make this world a better place. We want to please God as a chapter. We just ask for your compassion not to turn us in.”
    She looked over at me, surprised, and said, “I understand why you guys were doing that. My line was also taken over by some alumnae sorors years back, and when we crossed, a lot of colleges in Arkansas didn’t want to have anything to do with us and considered us paper—not real or whatever. It was the most hurtful feeling. It took a long time for them to come around and understand we were hardworking Betas, as you said, ready to make our world better. I wouldn’t wish that inadequate, isolated feeling on anybody. But the thing is, Cassidy, I now understand that people who feel that you need to be hazed in order to be worthy enough to join the sorority are the ones with the problem. We can’t cater to wrongdoers. So tell your line sisters you get no more warnings. I know you were under dire pressure. Follow the rules from here on out, and y’all should be fine.”
    I sprung into her arms and hugged her tight. God had used me in a mighty way. Four days later, we stood in front of a limited number of Alpha chapter sorors because some were suspended. Not all of them could witness our meaningful initiation vow. I could not believe we had crossed. It felt wonderful, and I was so thankful that God had Beta Gamma Pi in the cards for me after all. I was not planning to let him down with what He’d entrusted me with.
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    It was the first sorority meeting. Thirty-seven excited new Betas stood ready to go through the formal opening ceremony that took place before every meeting, ready to go through the chapter’s agenda, and ready just to be a part of the fold without feeling inferior. Our actual crossing-over ceremony hadn’t been that special, but none of us cared. We hadn’t had a decorated space and many gifts after we crossed, because the chapter was missing members due to the trust-walk incident that Dr. Garnes did