Being a Silas to another man within Samson Society requires patience and stamina. I recently used the analogy of serving a pro golfer as his caddy. Hence, you're at his disposable all during the game, whether you're listening or simply walking alongside praying silently that he'll stay the course.
When I first took on this role beside another Samson man back in 2014, I immediately felt the weight of emotional responsibility bearing down on my shoulders. Having only served one other friend (pre-Samson Society) within this capacity, I at least didn't consider myself a complete novice. But, that being said, it was still very hard. And what a commitment! To answer my cellphone irregardless of how I felt at the time, to listen to my friend talk about whatever as I attempted to draw out his feelings / learn as much as I could along the way, all before ending with prayer.
In many ways, it's not unlike having an unexpected man-date two or three times a week. And these weeks can add up to months, sometimes years.
Now, keep in mind that not every Silas relationship worked as I've previously described here. Some were always always face to face dialogues, whether over breakfast, lunch, or coffee, therefore the rhythm of communication was different. It just depended on the Samson man, taking into consideration his preference. Again, it harkens back to that caddy analogy. You serve the man you're committed to by answering the phone, responding to the text message, and showing up on cue in order for the other man to not be alone.
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And this that I've described so far is a tough truth that most Samson men deduce fairly quickly relative to how the Silas portion of The Path actually works. Hence, some men's trepidation to commit to such a role. From there, you end up (within the Samson Society community) with what I'll dub "Super Silases", and these are men who seem to take on the aforementioned Silas responsibilities with aplomb, thusly - inevitably - formally connecting with a plethora of other men as the years rock on. "S-U-P-E-R S-I-L-A-S!"
And I'm fortunate to be one of those men, and it is really cool to say that because each time I've been approached to serve within the Silas capacity, I've been further humbled as a Christian and as a friend.
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But for Samson men who're not necessarily hardwired to serve as a Silas, they're like the golfers who're solely focused on their game. And golfers, as we all know, are all about their game. And I get that.
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In closing, I've been serving as a Silas as of late to a man in Florida. I was referred by Nate Larkin to this man after Nate spoke at his church in Orlando. This man is currently and throughout 2019 involved in a Christian's men ministry dubbed "Conquer", therefore he's seen a lot of sanctification occur through that ministry alone.
Of all the stories I've heard whilst serving as a Silas, none have come close to my new friend's story. In fact, even after walking closely with him now for a number of months, I sometimes still cannot believe what's he shared with me relative to his sin travails - over the course of his decades-long married life. All and all though, taking into account everything I've said here, I can say wholeheartedly that it is amazing to see God work within men's lives. To witness redemption up close and personal, as I've seen, is tantamount to being part and parcel to miracles.
But, on occasion, despite the commitment (again, detailed at length above) as another man's Silas, there's an element of obvious appreciation and connection that can sometimes develop, and this involves the golfer stopping short of stepping back up onto his pedestal despite it being his rightful place. And that's where I'm at today with my Florida friend, and it's a gift, taking into consideration the zenith of wreckage his story represents, within my own journey, alongside many as their Silas.
As of today, I have to admit that I have less and less tolerance for listening to men. And this makes me wonder as to whether God is tamping down on the supposed "Super Silas" that I once felt I was. Perhaps back then it was the massive trauma from 2013, which has long since been healed, that relegated me to having the needed compassion, or maybe I'm just as arrogant, pigheaded, and impatient as I ever was. I'm inclined today to believe it's likely the latter. Who's to say these truth-be-told attributes aren't being exacerbated by the fact that I'm simply less inclined to be tolerant of my own frustration(s) with other men due to my present-day comfort inside of this particular Christian community of men?
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