When I tell people I’m off on a trip with middle schoolers, the usual reaction is this: snarled faces, grunts, raised eyebrows, and a loud guffaw. But for those of you who have actually been on a trip with middle schoolers, you know that we hold the secret key to the kingdom: middle schoolers are magnificent.
Middle schoolers (students in grades 6-8 in my context) are so full – full of energy, of curiosity, of giggles, of fearlessness, of dreams and visions, of courage. On a road trip to a conference, they will gladly stop at a weirdo gas station in the middle of nowhere and make it fun. They will happily sit on the ground, even if it is a little damp. And, when there’s a game that requires them to run around acting like chickens with their heads cut off, they go for it with all the silliness in the world. When it comes time to pray in silence, they take it seriously and recognize that the Spirit is among them. When someone needs help, they stumble over one another to lend a hand.
If you haven’t visited Massanetta Springs during a Middle School Youth Conference, you haven’t lived a full Presbyterian life (that’s an exaggeration. but it is pretty close to true). I recently brought a dozen 6th and 7th graders up the mountain to this beautiful Virginia haven for such a conference. In those days, I saw all of our folks grow in their faith and their call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. And lest I was doubtful that anything was sinking in, there would be glimpses of middle school magnificence at every turn.
The most significant was our last night when out of nowhere, one of our boys said (and no – I didn’t prompt him, and no – this is not ordinary chat from him), “I feel so close to God this week. My relationship has never been this strong. It is so awesome!” Awesome indeed. His eyes literally lit up and he lifted them to the heavens. His smile was so wide he almost broke out in joyous laughter. And I sat in my chair, eyes welling with tears because I know that whether I like it or not, such fearless talk of the Triune God wanes once high school hits. But dangit, I guess that’s why I’m here, right? To keep at it, to keep encouraging proclamation from our middle schoolers so much so that it never escapes their tongues. And let’s be real – God’s still working through high schoolers, too, and even us old folks. It takes a bit more digging sometimes but that beautiful, boundless, bold middle schooler is underneath us all.
Praise be to God for that. Amen.
Taylor Lewis Gurthrie Hartman is the Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC. She loves preaching, photography, mechanical pencils in planners, long names, children’s books, her hometown of Louisville, and serving Jesus Christ. She hopes to settle down in Durham as long as she can (as does her husband Blair and their dog Addie Patterson).
