Positive Peer (Silas) Pressure

So much of what we choose to participate in and believe as individuals is massively influenced by our personal peer group.

Yet, often Samson guys intentionally limit their personal peer group by avoiding The Path.  They'll attend weekly meetings, often times quite regularly, but rarely, if ever, step onto The Path.  

Why?

One reason is they're convinced their issues with _______ are "under their control" at the present, therefore attending meetings is plenty involved in Samson Society (at the present time) relative to their issues / current state of mind.  

For me, I compare the experience of Samson Society to being an architecture student back in the early '90s at Mississippi State University.  As a freshman, I was beside myself with both the academic demands put on me coupled with the newly realized (Starkville / dorm room home) setting.   It wasn't 'till my sophomore year though that I began to develop personal friendships.  Obviously, these were friends who I felt comfortable investing in and vice versa.  And what I found whilst making that decision was holistic flourishing / vibrancy / renewal / fun there during my college career.  And this, in turn, undergirded my resiliency and focus relative to enduring my major of choice.

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There were only 7 students (out of +/-45), who started their 5-year stints as architecture students in 1990 at Mississippi State University, that passed through the 5-years uninterrupted (taking a year off / co-oping) prior to graduating.  I was one of those along with my oldest friend, Jason.  Were it not for what I chose to do within my sophomore year, I would have never made it through, uninterrupted or otherwise.  This is crystal clear to me whilst looking back.

A few thoughts for those of you who're resolved to avoid following The Path.

1.  Look closely at your end goal as it pertains to involving yourself within the Samson Society.  Ask yourself, at what pace and what exact goals have you set for yourself, again, as it pertains to ________.

2.  Look closely at the Samson Society group you're now affiliated with (assuming you're involved in 1 of the 5 Metro Jackson groups).  Specifically, analyze the specific men involved within your default group.  Are they within the same age group, demographic?  What about articulation / intelligence?  Analyze.  And from there, determine your comfortableness overall with the group itself.  From there, take stock in your good work by considering a change in setting if you believe this is the best course of action relative to your actually following The Path.

3.  Try to own up to how your abstaining from following The Path is restricting the work of the Holy Spirit in and through you yourself.  Often men see The Path as a one-way street, but it never is.  God can and will use you just as readily as he uses your Silas.  It is no doubt a selfish pursuit to abstain from The Path.

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In closing, I'm the Samson Society zealot I am today due to me finally embracing The Path by asking another man to firstly be my Silas.  

And what an amazing journey it has been.