The Super Bowl is not only the pinnacle of football, but it’s one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

And one of the players who took part in the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl this year was Michael Oher.

Born to an alcoholic and crack-addicted mother, and a father who spent a lot time in prison, Michael had a hard life.  He fell behind in school and was put into foster care at age 7.  He started playing football in high school, but was struggling with his studies and didn’t have a permanent place to live.

Until Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy heard his story.  He went to the same school as their children so they let him stay with them, got him a tutor and eventually formally adopted him.

With his new found stability, he graduated high school, went to the University of Mississippi where he hit the honour roll while playing football, and graduated with a degree in criminal justice.

He ended up in the National Football League and now at the Super Bowl.

His life story was made into the Oscar-nominated movie The Blind Side.

Can you imagine what it took to get from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs?  The hard work, the hope, the belief that something great would happen one day if he just kept going?

And the honour and courage of the Tuohys who opened their home to a stranger and helped him reach his full potential?

Michael said, “It’s true that we can’t help the circumstances we’re born into and some of us start out in a much tougher place than other people.  But just because we started there doesn’t mean we have to end there.”

We don’t have to end where we started or where we are now.  The world is full of opportunities and people willing to help us up when we fall.  But are we willing to commit to our dream?

Paulo Coelho said in The Alchemist, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Have we put our dreams out there?  Are we doing something every day to help make them come true?  What is your Super Bowl?  And are you ready to score a touchdown?