In my previous life, I was paid to make the tough calls.

Whistle in hand, I was the authority figure on the court, deciding right and wrong. It was more than a hobby. More than a job. My identity was defined by split-second decisions under the watchful eye of coaches, players, fans, and the media. As I was entering the prime of my career, as I look back on it, something deep inside whispered it was time to hang up the whistle.

Then, last summer, I decided not to take any calls.

I took an unconventional path: shutting off my cell phone for 365 days. What at first appeared to be my idea, I soon realized two critical factors. This wasn’t my idea; it had nothing to do with a cell phone. It was as if I heard another call. There were no wind storms, earthquakes, or fires, but I listened to a whisper like Elijah in the cave. Amidst the noise and pressure from the outside world, the whisper compelled me to pause and listen.

First, I stepped away from the relentless ring of instant decisions on the court and then the buzz of constant communication with my cell phone. What started as a way to silence calls turned into creating space to hear something deeper, something more profound.

I continue to unpack the transformation that is taking place within my soul and ask myself, “Is it even possible without my cell phone to answer THE call?”

God’s call.

A call to avoid making decisions from the perspective based on the game’s rulebook or the crowd’s expectations. This call is about stepping into an undetermined greater purpose but a divine game plan that guides every action and decision, guided by higher wisdom.

This realization brought me to the best call I ever made:

Living in Christ’s light, not the world’s sight.

This allows me to shift my gaze from seeking validation and fearing failure in the presence of people to embracing the grace and truth only found in a relationship with God. Never in a million years would I have predicted that this experience would turn into a deep, profoundly spiritual journey.

I guess that happens when you create the space within the stillness to go deep inside. At times, it is uncomfortable. Uncomfortable only because it is unknown. It serves as a reminder that nothing significant happens until we enter the unknown.

As I write this today, I’m no longer a referee; that’s official.

I am a person who is not perfect and makes mistakes. Thank God he doesn’t base his love on our performance because we all fall short. His love is available to us all.

I invite you to consider the calls you’re taking and the one call that truly matters.