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The Diocese of
St. Asaph

St Asaph Youth

 

 

Cyswllt * Contact

Tim Feak
Diocesan Under 25s' Officer
Diocesan Office
High Street
St Asaph LL17 0RD

01745 582245

timfeak@churchinwales.org.uk

 

Tim's BlogTim Feak


Hi, I'm Tim Feak, the Under 25s Officer for the Diocese of St Asaph, welcome to my blog!

 

Summer Term 2012


My goodness me, what an Easter holiday! I have two children - one who is 18 months and a five-year-old. I love spending time with them. As you will know from my previous blogs I like taking them outside adventuring or playing games and sport.

So what happens when the weather is horrible? Yes, you can brave the weather and get wet, we do this sometimes. But what happens when you and your five-year-old refuse to get wet again?

Three words.

Soft play area.

These wonderful INDOOR places have been the saviour of many families on a wet afternoon. They stop countless mums and dads from going crazy and they enable the kids to have fun.

On one fateful wet day during the Easter holiday when my lovely wife was at work I found myself outside a massive indoor soft play area. One arm being wrenched out of its socket holding the hand of my eldest son whilst my other arm had lost all feeling having carried my 18 month old across the vast car park.

Going through the glass doors I was met with a din reaching surely over two million decibels made by what felt like an army of 2000 children. My eldest son ran towards the 10 storey play centre without looking back. I was left with my smallest child negotiating our way between children, prams and handbags.

Having slalomed our way to the tiny tot’s area we set up camp. My youngest crawling round the play area climbing the tiny steps and enjoying the slide. My eldest, quite honestly could be been anywhere in the centre. Between prising bits of other peoples food that had fallen on the floor out of the mouth of the smallest child I tried to keep my eye open for my eldest. I thought it would have been impossible to hear him should he shout over the cacophony so I was reliant on sight only!

Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of him running around smiling, climbing or swinging. Time moved on, slowly. My time divided up between the ball pit and the mini disco (question. What is an adult supposed to do with themselves in the disco room when looking after their child? I just think dancing too looks a bit strange and simply standing there does too, I took the approach of nodding my head and smiling like a fool.)

I was amazed that from what must have been over 200 children shouting I heard my son’s voice on the play area. He was up at the top of the tower waving and smiling. I was astonished that my ears were so attuned to his voice that I could differentiate and single in on him, a little boy that I love and would do anything for. Had any other child shouted, I would not have turned or looked. But his voice, his needs are what matter to me.

Reflection

We eventually left the soft play area and headed home. In between endless questions and comments about anything ranging from Ben 10 to what we were having for tea I was able to reflect on my experience.

I began to think about the many children and young people in our world who do not have anyone to shout to when they want them. When they call, no one hears them, no one acts. They do not have the opportunity to share joy or pain, they are left alone.

My thoughts led me to reflect on the Church and its mission. Surely Jesus came with a message for these children and young people. Surely our job is to show them that they are not alone, that there is a God who loves them, whose ear is attuned to their voice and that when they cry out He will listen. Christians believe that Jesus came to share God’s love with humanity. It’s our job to continue this mission by introducing people to Jesus in ways that they will understand and that can change their lives.

I believe that every individual is loved and special to God. In the book of Psalms in the Bible there are some amazing words about God’s love for people. In Psalm 139 the writer says to God:

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” (Psalm 139 vs. 2-6 NRSV)

I want to think that the church can show children, young people and all other ages that this is who God is and that when they cry out, they know that there is someone that listens.

Tim's Lent 2012 blog
Tim's Christmas 2011 blog
Tim's October 2011 blog
Tim's September 2011 blog
Tim's August 2011 blog
Tim's July 2011 blog
Tim's June 2011 blog
Tim's May 2011 blog
Tim's April 2011 blog
Tim's March 2011 blog