Live by faith and not by sight.
That’s the tattoo written on Brandon Carlo’s right forearm. The statement has been his guiding light living through the COVID-19 pandemic with so much uncertainty.
“To a point, I feel like God might be telling us to slow down a little bit in life,” Carlo said reflecting about his faith in quarantine. “My tattoo has come into real life here during this time. Kind of walking by faith instead of going by what you see in general life and what’s going on right now.”
Faith has not only been a cornerstone of the 22-year-old defenseman’s life but the Boston Bruins organization as a whole, especially with the recent tragic passing of former-Bruin Colby Cave on Saturday.
The team’s chapel group, including David Backes, Chris Wagner, Torey Krug, Charlie McAvoy and Carlo, have met virtually over the past few weeks to discuss any hardships they’ve encountered during this time of uncertainty.
“We’ve had some great chapel discussions lately,” Carlo said during Monday’s Zoom call with the media. “It’s obviously been a troubling time in a lot of different ways. Not just through the pandemic but through the Colby Cave situation which has been quite devastating to a lot of us. I would like to just say first and foremost that I’m wishing his family the best during this tragic time. He was one of the guys that when I first came to development camps I looked up to.”
It’s easy to forget that these superstar athletes that dazzle on Causeway Street are more than just hockey players. They are human beings too and they experience tragedy just like the rest of us.
In trying times they fall back on what they rely on — each other. It’s a fabric that has formed an unbreakable bond in the Bruins locker room.
It’s a culture that makes players — namely McAvoy and Carlo — want to stay in Boston despite attracting more money in free agency.
They are more than a team. They’re a brotherhood.
“It’s like having 30 brothers with you everyday,” Carlo said about his teammates.
As we all continue to face uncertainty in the coming weeks and months, we can take a valuable lesson from Carlo and the Bruins.
Live by faith and not by sight.
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