ZAX @ G-IZ
December 19th, 2005 by Ed Leonard. Popularity: 4%.A couple of weeks ago, I spent about 90 minutes with the brothers of Gamma-Iota Zeta talking about how to live the Ritual. But first, let me share the back story on how I got to Granville, Ohio.
In September, one of last summer’s International Ritual Team coaches e-mailed me with a few questions about ritual education at the chapter level. He had been approached by the High Phi at Gamma-Iota Zeta at Denison University. My first response was, “I’m only 90 minutes from Denison. I’d be happy to help any way I can.” Within a day after sending that e-mail, I was invited by that High Phi to visit Gamma-Iota to share my perspectives on the Ritual.
During the fall, the High Phi and I shared several e-mail correspondences about what he would like for me to accomplish with the chapter and the ZAX session. We also met for dinner to continue that conversation. Now, back to the visit.
My focus was on, what I call, connecting the dots in understanding our Ritual. Since this is an open forum, I can’t be specific. What I can say safely is that our Ritual is full of powerful teachings, but unless you step back and connect the dots, you will not see how the teachings flow throughout the Ritual. And, more importantly, unless you connect the dots, the Ritual will not speak to you and guide you on how to live your life as a Lambda Chi and as a human being.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Gamma-Iota Zeta. (Heck, any time I can talk for 90 minutes about our Ritual, I’m going to have a good time.) They asked some very penetrating questions and we had good give-and-take during the 90 minutes. I hope I opened up a few eyes on how the Ritual can guide us as brothers and leaders.
Over the last 15 years, in my opinion, Lambda Chi Alpha has strayed away from being the Ritual-centered fraternity it was in the 1980’s when we updated the High Phi Manual, tweaked the Initiation Ritual, rewrote the Ritual for Conducting Business Meetings, published the Ritual-What & Why, to name just a few outcomes of the ritual movement of the 1980’s.
As we approach our centennial anniversary, my dream would be that a 21st century ritual renewal movement - like the 1980’s - can take hold. It is not by coincidence that strong chapters have strong foundations in ritualism. It is also not by coincidence that Lambda Chi Alpha’s membership and chapters surged in the 1980’s as well.
To paraphrase Star Wars, “May the Ritual be with you.”
February 2nd, 2006 at 5:15 pm
I, too, have seen the deterioration going on - or I thought I did. I didn’t know that anyone else saw it, though.
I have no answer, merely questions as to why this has happened. Could it be that video games have taken the place of Ritual practice? That guys don’t spend time finding a suitable location? That the lack of style and grace at some chapters has resulted in an attitudinal shift?
July 3rd, 2006 at 6:09 pm
John, your not the only one to have noticed this. When basic lessons go unlearned and knowledge of the Ritual’s meanings are not known, the rest of the Chapter seems to deteriorate also. A sad thought that something as inspiring as our Ritual is not given the respect it deserves.