One of the most substantial outcomes relative to teenage Rob wielding his (positive) influence happened during an (snow day) ice storm. The year was likely somewhere around early 1988. The Christmas prior, I'd been gifted a Yamaha keyboard (though I actually didn't play keyboard with any semblance of true ability).
My best friend, Greg, on the other hand, did play keyboard with envious skill, and he'd just purchased his own Yamaha synthesizer (from Service Merchandise, no doubt) in response to having "test driven" my own.
Since I was always looking to spend time with Greg, and knowing that we both enjoyed our mutual friend, Todd's companionship (who just happened to own a Casio keyboard), our keyboard trio, Infinity, serendipitously came together.
And man, oh man, did we three enjoy our time together, composing and practicing, practicing, practicing before finally performing (school talent shows, etc.). And it all took root with the three of us sitting cross-legged on my small bedroom's cut-pile carpeted floor, laughing and carrying-on, as only us three nerdy Mississippi teens could do during a mid-January late '80s snow day.
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Being cognizant of (& comfortable wielding) your positive influence is the very best toolset at your disposal as a Samson guy. Each of us is unique with our specific gifting in this regard. Some are writers, others are encouragers (spoken word), others still seemingly sages relative to most any circumstance. And of course, it's a given that communities like Samson Society are perfectly suited to positive influencers. How and why is this?
(And though it's certainly priority number one to focus in on your individual recovery, there's still no reason to not keep as a very close second, the opportunistic influence you wield relative to supporting another's.)
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1. Shared interests
First and foremost is recovery. Every Samson guy can relate to that. From there, it's usually humor and deep-seated respect that establish the parallel courses of so many men within Samson Society.
2. The need to run interference against despair
A true Samson guy enters in as a result of his recent confrontation with personal, marriage, vocational, spiritual crisis. Many Samson guys have experienced suicidal thoughts / ideations as a result of this crisis. Tenured Samson men are forever reminded of this starting point since they've lived it themselves. As such, their positive influence isn't necessitated to ignore other guys' pain but to counterbalance it. As a reminder that despair is not and will never be permanent. Hope exists down the road.
3. It's within the very DNA of a Samson Society meeting (format)
Every meeting you choose to attend, your presence positions you to influence, from the very moment you log / step foot in the door. As Christians, carrying the Holy Spirit inside of us, we minister to each other therein. During share time, as we break up into smaller groups, the opportunity for influence becomes more granular / fine-toothed as more individualized opportunity is placed in our lap.
4. Serving another man as his Silas is not unlike being Jiminy Cricket.
Who doesn't want an assigned / appointed friend to come alongside them during arguably the most trying season of their life? Especially if that man has had the resolve to walk out some portion of his own recovery. The very presence of one's Silas can do wonders to positively influence. From there, his listening ear and thoughtful questions only add to the powerful elixir of relational accountability.
5. It feels absolutely natural to open your pocketbook and give back.
Positive influencers are not bashful towards putting their money where their heart is. It's as simple as that.
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