Samson Society for Rob is a way of life, having been "indoctrinated" back in late summer of 2014, but I vividly remember the one year mark for me and how it seemed both extraordinarily milestonish and terribly burdensome.
Let me explain.
To be committed to a Samson Society meeting for 12 months is not easy for any man. There's the time commitment, but primarily, it's the gamble of what exact dynamic you're going to encounter whilst there during those +/-52 meetings and how in turn they "average" together within your mind. Samson meetings are not at all reliable from the standpoint of attendance or atmosphere, therefore it's inevitable that an hour spent won't necessarily provide the payoff / results you'd been hoping for. Plus, over time, you're going to get to know the regular guys really well. Perhaps too well in some instances - for your taste or comfort level.
Too, there's the notion of becoming an alum of an organization that's known for "sex addiction", keeping in mind that heady phrase. My pastor at Lakeside Pres (where I facilitate a group) tells me that he cannot summarize Samson any better than "guys who struggle with porn". Well, as we all know, that's not an accurate descriptor. It's much more than that, but overall, there are many men who engage with Samson who are sexually broken, and that can lead to sexual sin in the form of online pornography usage, etc.
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Now onto the terribly burdensome part.
It's hard not to be a critical thinker whilst presented with other men's stories via a Samson Society meeting. Especially over time. And this can lead to criticism and dissonance due to the internal, very fluid dynamics within the group.
Let me explain this too.
Tangential dialogue inevitably goes on outside of meetings - and this is typically about attendees, though I wish it were more along the lines of critiquing the interior decor of the meeting space(s). As we all know, it's entertaining to obtain / give one's opinion on another man's situation / attitude / persona / demeanor / intelligence, etc. And it's difficult, over time, not to do this. Especially when their situation / attitude / persona / demeanor / intelligence, etc. is seemingly in contrast to your / our own.
And you feel bad for saying these things, but at the same time, you're not sure what else to do with it because it's become a burden - from the standpoint of pissing you off more and more each time you see this person. And typically, men who choose to engage with Samson Society are "burdened enough", if you know what I mean. Hence, the meeting itself can become an emotional lightning rod for some, and things can in turn get heated up internally rather quickly. From there, that little voice may start whispering the following into an alumnus' ears: "Pack your bags. Cut this shit loose. Break for it and run! You're way above these idiots, therefore better ON YOUR OWN!"
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For a number of years now, Metro Jackson Samson Society has taken part in an annual rafting trip either to the Chattooga or Ocoee rivers. The trip is a wonderful 3-day experience of close bonding and adventure that's highly recommended (by me and many others). The first of these trips took place in 2016, and before that we did a canoe / kayak trip on the Okatoma river during the spring of 2015. Such sweet memories for the +/-15 men who made up each group, me being in attendance of a total of two (not counting the Okatoma canoe trip). Fun stuff indeed.
A few years back, I chose to not continue forward with these rafting trips, and this befuddled a few of my close Samson Society peers. The reason I did so was tied back to what I've described above.
For Rob, a 3-day rafting trip is not unlike one full year of meetings condensed together hour upon hour upon hour. Does that make sense? Therefore, that experience TODAY coupled with my commitment to weekly meetings is just too much fodder for criticism / disrespect for this sinner's brain. Plus, for Rob, it was that first rafting trip that was so new and fresh. I still harbor grand memories of my time together with those men (but especially with my Silas at the time).
And it's taken me awhile to articulate that, but it's absolutely true.
Now, I will be in attendance in a few weeks, taking part in the Annual Samson Society retreat in Eva, TN, but that's different. Way different from the standpoint of being grouped together with countless other Samson Society men from all over the globe. At least for Rob, within that setting, I can step back into the shadows and observe without being "fully known". And oh man, how I love to observe within these settings!
In closing, if you're one year in to attending a Samson Society meeting, congratulations! Keep up the good work, but remember to take steps against / resist the meddling of our mutual Enemy. Even if it means either taking a short break or "moving your membership" to another group (there are five, you know).
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