My Ode to Silioso,
Earlier this month, Silas, by his own choice, left the race to go back home.
Life on the race is not the same without him. When I walk into the living room, I think, “Someones missing, where is Silas? O yea, he’s gone.”
I remember the first time I heard about Silas, we were at training camp, and leadership made an announcement saying that Silas was wanting to come to camp, but he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to make it. I remember thinking, “Silas is supposed to be here, the Lord wants him on the race.” I prayed and prayed for him, and when he finally showed up at the end of the week, I saw him and said, “You’re Silas?” Then I gave him the biggest bear hug, I have ever given anyone in my life. (Which those of you who know me well, know that I am shy around new people, and this was very uncharacteristic of me.)
When our team started out without any men, I prayed and prayed that the Lord would provide men for us, so when we were told that Silas was going to join our team, I was thrilled that the Lord had answered my prayer through him.
Living with Silas was fun; it was like having a brother around all the time. Silas was the king of desserts, he always advocated chocolate and ice cream. He had one dessert that was a half baked chocolate chip cookie with ice cream on top that turned us all into starving savages.
We also felt bad when it came time to watch movies, because with six girls we were always afraid of out voting him. A lot of time, we would let him pick, but he always did a good job of picking what most people would want to watch.
Silas did great living with us, when he would come in from running, he would always put his tennis shoes outside the window, so that the entire room wouldn’t smell. He would always coming in dripping wet, with his arms wide open. He never learned that we didn’t like his sweaty hugs. One time our entire team shared a hostel room in Shanghai. We used to lock him out, so that we could change. He would just patiently (at least this is how I pictured him) wait outside and laugh at us when we finally let him in.
Silas was so encouraging. He held an air about him that said everything is going to be okay. No matter how bad I thought things got, when I would look at him, I knew that everything was going to be okay. I think this is because Silas genuinely cared about all of us.
Silas had a lot of wisdom, and we would let him get away with speaking truth to us that we wouldn’t necessarily let other people say. He was just so good at how, he said things. Even if he pointed out a flaw, he always built you up. When he was done, you were ready to go take on the world.
Silas always told us we were beautiful. Usually, I would roll my eyes, but I think somewhere throughout this year, I think I started believing him.
Silas was great with children. Kids all over the world would flock to him. In every country, he had children that he would want to take home. He is going to make a great father some day.
Silas was really great at Sports ministry, he could draw a crowd around him in seconds when he would hit the field with a soccer ball.
Silas is getting married in August, and I know that he is going to make a great husband. He is a man that loves the Lord, and he loves Brooke. I hope that someday the Lord gives me a man that love the Lord, the way Silas loves the Lord.
Silas,
It has been my honor to get to spend the greater part of this walking beside you. I pray that the Lord blesses your life, your marriage, and your ministry, and that we remain friends for years to come.
Love,
Ebeth.com
