The Balloon Tribe In a primitive country across the ocean lives a tribe that practices a unique social activity. This is the story of how the activity originated and the effect it had on the tribe. It seems that a short while back, one of the tribe members discovered a stretchy substance that came from a local tree. At first, the tribe didn't think this discovery was very important. However, from that substance one tribe member created what we now know as a balloon. The tribe thought it cleaver but seemingly  useless invention. One day, that same tribe member discovered something interesting about the balloons. After blowing up several of them, he became light-headed and out of breath, experiencing a euphoric, dizzy feeling. When he told the rest of the tribe, everyone immediately wanted to try it.  Eventually, as this activity increased, the tribe became divided into four groups: the Dizzy Balloon Blowers, the Occasional Balloon Blowers, the Balloon Blowers for Career or Craft, and the Anti-Balloon Blowers. The Dizzy Balloon Blowers developed a tolerance to blowing up several very large balloons in a short time-usually in just one evening. This group would get together every week and blow up numerous balloon for many different reasons: Some would do it to get dizzier than the time before, some as a reason to get together with their friends, some because it was a way to relax after a hard day in the jungle, some to celebrate and some just because they weren't getting along with other tribe members. Each Dizzy felt that their reason for blowing up balloons was worth it, even though he often felt sick and nauseated in the morning and promised never to blow up another balloon. Now the Occasional Balloon Blowers enjoyed  a balloon every once in a while. In fact, when they did join the Dizzies, they would take up a whole evening blowing up just one balloon   (which was usually not to large). These tribe members blew up balloons fro all the same reasons as the Dizzies, but they carefully avoided having to go through what the Dizzies went through the morning after. The Balloon Blowers for Career and Craft turned balloon blowing into an art.  They only blew up the best balloons, no just any old cheap balloon. In fact, many in this group made their own balloons. And fine balloons they were! It was not long after balloons were discovered that this group started contests and competitions to find the best balloon. They examined balloon shape, size, color, and how well it expanded.  Many in this group got so good at making balloons that they went full-time. On the other side of the jungle were the Anti-Balloon Blowers. They had seen the damage done from blowing up to many balloons and getting dizzy. (Some members of this group were former Dizzies.) They loudly protested that absolutely no one should blow up balloons! Balloon blowing had caused tribal families to break up and hate one another, they said. Many tribe members had given up their tribal responsibilities so they could blow up balloons all day and get dizzy. Some Dizzies got too dizzy to paddle their canoes home and drowned trying to do so. With many groups of balloon blowers-and the Anti-Balloon Blowers-it was difficult to assess the overall benefit or detriment to the tribe as a direct result of the balloons. Some members would not touch balloons while some seemingly could not face life without them.  In some way every tribe member had to make up his or her mind. After the group has read or heard the story of the Balloon tribe, divide up into small groups according to the position each student takes toward the story: Group One: Blowing up balloons is fine, and it's okay to run out of breath and get dizzy if you feel like it. Group Two: Occasional balloon blowing is okay, but it's morally wrong to get dizzy.  Group Three: Blowing up balloons is wrong at all times. Have the groups defend their positions, and allow switches if desired. Use these questions to clarify what someone just said: *Can you give me an example or two about&ldots; *What do you mean by&ldots; *Why do you believe that? *What is the basis for your conclusion/feelings? *Would you explain what you just said for us? To resolve conflict, make statements like the following: *Have we really heard what your trying to say? *It looks like we need to do some more research on this idea. Let's go on to a new angle/question and come back to this next week. If you want to probe or go more deeply into an answer, ask these kinds of questions: *What else are you feeling? *Could you tell me more about&ldots; *What else can you tell us about&ldots; To redirect the discussion to someone else, try these ideas: *(Jane), what do you think about what (Allen) just said? *Let's hear what (Bob) thinks. *(John), I'm glad you've got so much to say on this topic. I wonder if anyone else has something to add.  Journey: Continue with discussions about right and wrong, good and bad, as they relate to the current events. Trek: Pass out 5 balloons to everyone.  Tell them to each blow up one balloon and tie it. Allow them to blow them how ever they want. Ask: How do these balloons relate to the story? Each is different. But does the size indicate how much a person liked balloon blowing? Discussion Have a race: Now with a partner blow up the remaining 4 balloons. Race to see who will get their balloons blown up and tied the fastest. Here's the catch. All balloons must be as big as a volley ball. Only one person is allowed to blow and the other must tie. The blower must always be turning in a circle.  Wait for a winner. Ask:  What type of relationship do the two people play, with regard to "balloon blowing"?  Is one the designated tier, while the other blows them self to dizziness? Is one person doing the right thing? Discussion Road Work Save some discussion for after the race.   Have a race: Now with a partner blow up the remaining 4 balloons. Race to see who will get their balloons blown up and tied the fastest. Here's the catch. All balloons must be as big as a volley ball. Only one person is allowed to blow and the other must tie. The blower must always be turning in a circle.  Wait for a winner. Ask:  Is the designated tier saying that "balloon blowing" is okay by watching the other partner blow them self to dizziness? Discussion  Play The Game: (15 Min.) Balloon Football Arrange chairs in the following manor. There should be the same number of players for each team. One team faces one direction; the second team faces the other direction. After all the players are seated in their team's chairs, toss a balloon into the center of the players.  The players cannot stand, but they must try to bat the balloon to the end zone of the other team. As soon as the balloon drops onto the floor behind the last row of chairs 2 points are awarded.  Play continues to 20 points. If the balloon goes out-of-bounds, throw it back in at the point it went out. SUMMARY: Read the following "I used to hate going to church stuff.  Then we got this new teacher who starts every meeting differently, and we end up in a wild discussion. I learned a lot-I even hate for the meetings to be over." "I came home from youth group really upset. We had this great discussion going. Everyone was arguing about what was right or wrong. Then our sponsor cut off the discussion with everyone still disagreeing. I went home and told my parents. We spent about two hours talking about the meeting. And then it hit me-that's exactly what our sponsor wanted me to do. I have to admit it worked." Youth group is so out of control no one listens, I don't think anyone is getting the point. This is God's house. We need to be respectful of him and each other." These are the responses we hope to get for each of you.  By having different styles of activity we hope you will find what you are looking for! PRAYER: You are invited to join hands and offer a few words of prayer if you want. Your leader starts the prayer, then squeezes the hand of the person to the left to indicate their turn, if you do not wish to speak just pass the squeeze and so on until the squeeze gets back to the first person.