Brandon Roberts laced up his rugby boots, his heart pounding with excitement. Today was his first big game.
As he ran onto the field, he heard cheers. But inside, Brandon was full of doubts.
Suddenly, the game began to change. Brandon had the ball, and the goal was ahead. Run, Brandon, run!
With opponents closing in, Brandon felt a rush. He whispered, 'Can I do it?' as he neared the goal.
He looked up briefly and thought he saw the clouds forming a face, a calming presence in the sky.
'You've got this,' a gentle voice seemed to say. It was strange, but Brandon felt less alone.
He dodged a tackle, then another. The voice returned, 'Focus on the present moment, Brandon.'
With a final burst of energy, Brandon scored! His team erupted in cheers, and he beamed with pride.
After the game, Brandon sat alone, staring at the sky, wondering about that voice. Was it real?
"Maybe it's not important if it was real," Brandon thought. "It helped me when I needed it."
The next game came, and though the sky was silent, Brandon felt that same confidence. He was not alone.
From then on, whether he heard the voice or not, Brandon Roberts played each game with heart and soul.
Reflection Questions