@Orchidaceae 19 December 2020

A Word about Balance

When you are planning your junior high program, it's a good idea to keep in mind that balance is sometimes required, even when you have set some priorities that get more attention. Veteran junior high worker Darrel Pearson has identified six areas that are easy to get out of balance:

*****•Fun versus serious.***** Even though most junior high programming should include an element of fun, it's important to remember that weare not just trying to give kids a good time.

*****•High energy versus low energy.***** Most junior highers have a lot of energy to burn, so it's usually a good idea to provide opportunities for that. If you start your meetings and activities with some high energy games or crowd breakers, you'll usually have more successful quiet times, when kids can sit, think, and relax.

*****•Large group versus small group.***** If you have a large group, remember that it's important to break them into smaller, more intimate units for community building, discussion, and sharing. If you have a small group, its a good idea to find ways to give your kids the opportunity to be with a larger group as well. Take them to citywide events, denominational youth gatherings, or combine with some other youth groups to do some things you can't do on your own.

•*****Scheduled versus spontaneous.***** While it is important to do advance planning, it's also a good idea to leave enough time on the calendar to allow for spontaneous activities that can be inserted from time to time. It's also wise to remember that "the best laid plans" sometimes need to be changed at the last minute. Junior high ministry requires a good amount of flexibility and spontaneity.

*****•Basics versus in-depth.***** It's not unusual to have junior highers in your group who are totally unfamiliar with the Bible, the stories of faith, or other knowledge that would be considered basic. On the other hand, you will have other students who have been raised in the church and need to go deeper. Our programs need to reflect a balance that will meet the needs of both groups.

*****•Intellectual versus emotional.***** While junior highers are ready to begin thinking through their faith, asking questions, and learning about theological issues, they are also very emotional and have a need to feel their faith, not just understand it. That's why it's important for us to keep a balance between the intellectual (objective) and the emotional (subjective.)* Obviously we can't have perfect balance in everything we do, but it's helpful to remember that most of us are unbalanced personally, which makes our programming become unbalanced. If you are more of a thinker than a feeler, your tendency will be to program accordingly. That's why it's helpful to remember to at least try to achieve some balance in what we do. @Orchidaceae