For reasons that baffle me still, my high school sports coaches

In the words of Hamish Bowles, “For reasons that baffle me still, my high school sports coaches put me in the first division of the rugby, cricket, and soccer teams.” Here, the speaker confesses bewilderment at his own elevation into the first division, a place reserved for the strong, the skillful, the chosen. Yet, he admits with a touch of humility—or perhaps disbelief—that such honor was granted to him not by his own conviction, but by the decree of others. In this we see the eternal tension between how we are perceived and how we perceive ourselves. The ancients often taught that fate places a man in stations not of his own making, and it is in how he carries the unexpected mantle that his spirit is revealed.

Consider the image of the coaches, guardians and judges of youthful vigor, who see in the boy something unspoken—some promise, some hidden flame—that even he cannot yet perceive. They thrust him into the arena, as elders once pushed young warriors into the shield wall. The boy, baffled, doubts the vision of his mentors. But the mentors, like prophets, often see beyond the fog of self-doubt. What seems a mystery to him may be destiny to them. Thus, this quote speaks not only of sport, but of the unseen forces that shape the journeys of men and women.

There is a lesson here: many are called into roles they believe themselves unfit for. Yet history remembers those who rose to the challenge despite their trembling hearts. Recall the tale of Gideon in the ancient scriptures, who saw himself as the least of his clan, yet was chosen to lead an army against the mighty. His bafflement mirrors that of Bowles: “Why me?” And yet, in walking into the unknown, he found both victory and identity. The story teaches us that disbelief in oneself need not be the end, but rather the beginning of a new chapter written by courage.

The quote also hints at the strange gap between inner identity and outward assignment. Hamish Bowles would later be known not as an athlete but as a man of fashion, culture, and refinement. Yet in youth he bore the jersey of the sportsman, thrust into fields where strength, speed, and grit were the measures of worth. How many among us have walked paths that did not seem our own, only to find that each path, however baffling, carved some stone into our character? Just as a river shapes a valley by flowing where it does not intend, so too do these unexpected roles shape the soul.

In our modern age, this truth remains. A young woman, believing herself timid, is placed at the head of a project. A man shy of words is asked to speak before a crowd. They tremble, baffled like Bowles. Yet, when the task is done, they discover that within them had lain a dormant strength. The battlefield of rugby and the runway of fashion may seem worlds apart, but both require endurance, presentation, and the courage to stand where all eyes rest upon you. The baffling assignment becomes a preparation for one’s destiny.

The emotional heart of the quote lies in its humility. Bowles does not boast of having earned the place by might, but marvels at the mysterious generosity—or perhaps misjudgment—of those who guided him. There is nobility in confessing that one’s path was not entirely self-made. For the wise understand that we are often raised by the trust others place in us. And when we honor that trust, even in confusion, we partake in a higher truth: that destiny is a tapestry woven by many hands, not just our own.

Let this be the teaching: do not flee when chosen, even if the choice baffles you. Accept the place into which others thrust you, for they may see what you cannot. And if you stumble, stumble forward, for in every fall there is learning. The path of growth is often hidden in the garments of bewilderment.

Therefore, O listener, take this practical counsel: when next you are invited into a role you doubt, do not shrink away. Step into it boldly, as Bowles stepped onto those fields. Keep humility in your heart, but courage in your stride. For even if the field is not your home, it may teach you the skills to walk the true path destiny has prepared. And in the end, like Bowles, you will look back and smile at the mystery of it all, grateful for the baffling hand that once lifted you higher than you dreamed.