We're taking a break from singing Father Abraham because the "right leg" was swinging too high this last Sunday. We do a group juggle to learn names, but that also might also need a break since the bean bags are prime projectiles for private areas.
I love middle schoolers. They are inquisitive, delightful, energetic creatures who are trying to figure out relationships and life.
But there are times I want to play the Jesus card and ask if they think Jesus beamed his friends in the balls with bean bags, except I'm not sure about the answer.
If we confess that Jesus was completely human and completely divine without sin, then does that rule out having friends and trying to figure out relationships in an age appropriate way? Do we envision Jesus as the isolated freak child who did everything right pulling out his superpowers to be able to pass his tests? That's actually a more disturbing portrait of Jesus than the one who is trying to figure out life like adolescent boys do.
I don't condone whatever obsession boys have with nailing each other in the nuts, but I've been working with this age for long enough to know it is nothing new. Peter Steinke, who works with family systems, tells us we create intimate relationships through either play or conflict. I think this strange phenomenon does both. I'm sure Freud would throw some reasons in there too.
I remind them of personal space and boundaries, of respecting each other and themselves, but I don't play the Jesus card.
Unless it is to remind them of the deep solidarity Jesus has with us in our humanity; remind us all of his communion in our relationships, pain, and joy.
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