“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
When St Mirren found themselves two goals down at a rain-soaked Fir Park, despite having dominated Wednesday night’s clash with Motherwell up until that point, it would have been entirely plausible that the home side would have rode out the storm and cruised over the finish line to bag all three points.
But, as Martin Luther King’s quote suggests, it is in moments of challenge and controversy when a person’s true character comes to the fore.
And for the Buddies celebrating wildly after Eamonn Brophy netted his second to bring the Paisley side level, it was clear that he has all the bottle required to take his club to the next level.
Last season, Jim Goodwin’s side were just a consistent goal scorer away from finishing in the top six.
Brophy had arrived in January, but a troublesome foot injury meant he couldn’t make the kind of impact he or the club’s fans had hoped for in his first few months in Paisley.
With a full pre-season under his belt, the Wolf looks like he’s very much back to his deadly best in front of goal.
His first strike against Motherwell was predatory.
Even with the angle narrowing as Liam Kelly rushed out to try and spook him, the Scotland international kept calm and slotted home with ease.
Perhaps, surprisingly, it was his second goal that really impressed me though.
Admittedly, his first penalty wasn’t the best, although Kelly is renowned for his spot kick saves.
Remember, he is one of the few men on Earth who has managed to stop Jamie McGrath from the 12-yard spot.
What was so telling about Brophy’s mindset was the fact that, as soon as the retake was ordered – rightly or wrongly - the confident striker was straight over to pick the ball up and get ready for attempt number two.
Connor Ronan was quick to offer to take the responsibility off his shoulders, but Brophy proved he isn’t one to shy away from moments of challenge or controversy.
Up he stepped to emphatically slam his Buddies level, rightly enjoying the celebration with the travelling support having netted at the second attempt.
It was no less than the Saints deserved, having dominated possession while creating plenty of chances.
But, without a confident striker of Brophy’s ilk, that two-goal deficit may well have held strong and Motherwell may well have walked away with a victory.
The key to St Mirren making that next step and forcing their way into the top six is to turn defeats into draws and draws into wins.
In the lead up to the split last season, Goodwin’s side drew far too many matches as they went on to lose out on a top half finish, quite painfully, on goal difference alone.
Having scored five goals in his first 11 Premiership outings this season, and still looking like he’s got room for improvement, Brophy could well be the missing piece of the puzzle for Goodwin’s previously goal-shy Buddies.
After the first round of fixtures, St Mirren sit in seventh, just a point behind Hibs and Motherwell.
While Goodwin is pleased with that start, he’s adamant they should be in the top six already given some of the dubious goals the club have seen chalked off in those opening 11 games.
If the Saints are serious about edging their way into the top half this season, it’s imperative they make their next three games count.
Dundee, at 11th in the table, St Johnstone (10th) and Livingston (9th) are all very winnable matches, especially with an in-form Brophy leading the line.
While it’s still very early days, a healthy return from that trio could set the Buddies on their way to the promised land of the top six at long last.
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