1. Morning Contemplation

🎧 You can find the audio version of this morning’s contemplation below.

Good morning.

For most athletes, turning pro is the realization of a lifelong dream. The Italian footballer Fabio Quagliarella achieved that in 1999 when he signed with Torino. But his ultimate dream was to play for his hometown club, Napoli.

That dream came true too in June 2009 when Napoli paid €18 million for him. With family close and fans treating him like a hero, it seemed like the perfect setup. But a year later, everything collapsed. A transfer to Juventus made him a hated figure, seen as a traitor by the very people who once adored him.

What they didn’t know—what no one knew—was that Quagliarella and his family were being stalked and had little option but to leave.