Fr. Jeremy's Topic - Maidenhead Advertiser Oct 2024
Altwood School Academy has a hope for each of its students. That they will be ‘known, valued and successful.’ The challenge for the school will be to ‘identify and develop the full potential of every member of our community.’ Everyone at this church school should experience a sense of ‘belonging’.
The strapline for the school is taken from John 10.10. ‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ Jesus desires that we live life with a sense of fulfilment and discover our passion in life.
One man who played cricket passionately is Freddie Flintoff who played in the amazing 2005 Ashes series against Australia. Flintoff more recently nearly lost his life while filming for Top Gear and has received acclaim for his brilliant program ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams.’ In series two Flintoff has taken a group of young men from Preston from challenging backgrounds to form a cricket team to play in Calcutta, India. His mission to encourage the lads to work hard, to take responsibility, to show commitment and discover that they have a role to play in society.
One young man Ben is unemployed and living in supported housing. In his one to one with Flintoff, Ben describes his fears. ‘I am scared of failing.’ Flintoff replies ‘failure is not trying.’ Ben is challenged to lead a class at a school in Calcutta for orphans. Ben stumbles to begin with when faced with the excited young Indian students. He looks to his notes for inspiration and asks the young people to write a letter to their future selves. They respond positively and Ben finds himself giving a motivational speech to the whole school! Flintoff gives him a huge hug.
At the end of the program, we learn that Ben will return to the school in Calcutta as a volunteer and is starting qualifications for the teaching profession. I look back on my life and give thanks for teachers, friends and priests who told me that I was valued and could succeed. Flintoff lived life to the full on the cricket field but maybe helping others to discover their passion for life will be of equal significance.
Revd Jeremy Harris, vicar of All Saints, Boyne Hill