This is the "Barrier Exercise" that Shane did with some other students.
Barrier Game-Relationship Group- Matt, Nick, Ryan, Seth
Today in relationships group we played the game called the barrier game. We would set up volleyball nets and put up a blanket so your partner couldn’t see to the other side. Then one partner would get a bin and set it somewhere. When the bin was set down your partner would get a ball and try to get it into the bin while getting directed where it was. The barrier was a blanket that you weren’t able to see through. If you look around the net or under it you were disqualified. So, how does this game relate to relationships? Here are some of the things we learned from the game.
The barrier game did requires one important thing, communication. Because you are blind and you can’t see the basket that you need to shoot the ball in, your partner needs to communicate with you about where you need to shoot the ball, how hard, and what direction. The person who is telling where to shoot the ball perspective is very different than the person who is shooting the ball. Without taking their perspective, their communication will be off.
Trust- Another thing required by the Barrier Game was trust. You had to trust that your partner cared about helping you score and wasn’t trying to screw you over. Also, you had to trust in his perspective and directions. Both of our perspectives of the game were incomplete, and we had to take our partner’s word for what the missing half of the court looked like.
Trust and communication are two of the fundamental qualities of a relationship. In the barrier game, if we don’t trust what are partner is trying to tell us or say to us, then we won’t be able to progress in relationships. We have to be patient and trusting, as well as communicating appropriately. If we try and mess with our partner by giving them the wrong idea of where the basket is, our relationship will be progressively ruined. We must communicate and trust our partner, or else the foundation will collapse and we will be unable to construct a good relationship.
Relating it to my Life- I relate this to my life by listening and being receptive to what the other person has to say, as well as being receptive to their feedback. –Seth
This relates to my life by showing me that I need other people’s perspectives because majorities of the time I only have half of the picture. Also, I need to trust what people say more. –Ryan
This relates to my life because when I’m frustrated or angry I’m not able to see the whole picture and I don’t want to listen to what others have to say. -Matt
This relates to me because it will help built trust and not get frustrated when you fail at something and that you don’t give up. - Nick (The Beast)