He was never physically affectionate; we’d never even hugged. I wanted to touch him not out of a sexual desire but from a longing to connect with him as love with a brother. I dreamed of a day when we could embrace and confess our brotherly love for each other. I put my hand on his shoulder once. He brushed it off.
In this episode, Tom dives into the third of our five YOB values — brotherhood. In brotherhood, we learn to share our burdens with one another and bond in the two ways Jesus demonstrated -- the being and the doing. Tom talks his childhood yearnings for brotherhood and how this longing has translated to the present day.
What would it look like for my distant tribe to be gathered together? Didn't God long to change our shame into praise and renown? "Gather us," I prayed. I prayed that my scattered and lost tribe would be drawn together, our fortunes restored before our eyes. It was a prayer for my own benefit, but also for all of us.
All these ups and downs often caused me emotional pain. I had to take risks rather than stay safe and comfortable. My SSA made me feel weak and ineffective around all these straight guys. These painful things tested my friendship with James, too.
In this episode of Manly Monday, Tom talks about the first of our five YOB values -- hope. Though hope often feels frail, even a little bit of hope is just as potent and powerful as a lot. Watch the video for more on our first value, including why Tom likes to write this word on himself.
Once I had exhausted my words and my voice, he stepped right in and began pouring out every bit of encouragement he could think of. He kept his arm around me and continued to encourage me. It was as though I'd crumbled right in front of my best friend as he carefully helped build me back up.
A straight and very strong "alpha male" type leader has constantly challenged me to go beyond what is safe and comfortable to accomplish more of what really matters. We started becoming close friends, so I shared with him that I deal with same-sex attraction.
I've cuddled with many fantastic men, all same-sex attracted. I can say with absolute certainty that these moments have been some of the most beautiful, moving, and totally platonic expressions of intimate love. I'd recommend reading these basic pointers based on my own past experiences with bro cuddling.
Today, we're excited to introduce our brand new web series: MANLY MONDAY! Join me in this biweekly (bimonthly?) video series for storytime, Scripture reading, and calls to growth for the week ahead. You'll also get a little "state of the YOB" with highlights from recent comments, podcasts, emails, and more. We hope Manly Monday is a fun, informative, and challenging way to start our weeks here every other Monday. Thanks to our faithful patrons for making this new video series possible! As of this premiere episode, we currently have 125 patrons funding Your Other Brothers each month -- totally covering our yearly maintenance expenses while also enabling us the resources and time to tell even more dynamic stories and challenge further growth in this community. THANK YOU, YOBBERS. If you believe in what we're doing at YOB, consider becoming a patron today! All information is on our Patreon page. We...
By the end of the conference, I felt rejuvenated and refreshed. All the messages were so powerful and challenging, like God had opened my heart for a heart and soul operation. My best friend and I returned home, and I thought this would strengthen our friendship in the months to come.