January 2012 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Linsanity, Lincredible, Linpossible, Linfinite….are some of the words played by the media to describe Asian sensation Jeremy Lin who has scored more points in his first five NBA starts (playing for New York Knicks) than Jordan and Lebron since 1976.

With his sudden rise from NBA benchwarmer to must-see TV, Lin, 23, has crushed all kinds of conventions – like the one that said he was a nice Ivy League player but would never thrive in the NBA. Lin, an Asian American and a Harvard grad, is a first. Harvard has produced more US Presidents (eight) than NBA players (four, and none since 1950s).

In college, Lin faced additional challenges, including frequent racial taunts – real original stuff like a fan yelling, “Sweet-and-sour pork!” When Lin entered the gym for one summer-league game, someone redirected him: no one was playing volleyball that night!

Bill Plaschke’s recent article in LA Times titled “Knick’s Jeremy Lin Holds Mirror Up To America” has made a valid point about the issue.

Of all the drives, dunks and dazzling shots Jeremy Lin is forcing upon the stars of the NBA, none of it compares with the moves he's putting on a larger collection of everyday people. Jeremy Lin has dribbled America into the previously quiet corner of its casual prejudice and lazy stereotypes of Asian Americans.

It's been barely two weeks since the beginning of a tale that rocked the sports world with great basketball and bad puns, but so much already has changed. When America now looks at Lin, it should see more than an Asian American kid from Harvard who overcame ignorance at every level to become a star guard for the New York Knicks. America should see itself in the murky reflection of a society that has long considered it reasonable to publicly categorize Asian Americans in ways that would never be acceptable for other, more vocal minorities.

America should see the game video from the Knicks' MSG network in which cameras focused on a homemade sign that showed Lin's face above a fortune cookie with the words, "The Knicks Good Fortune.''


"In this country, Asian Americans are stereotyped as the meek and the mild, the ones who will always take the racism," said Daryl Maeda, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado who specializes in Asian American studies. ''There is a perception that it's OK to offend Asian Americans because they simply won't fight back.''

There was finally push-back last weekend at ESPN, which fired one employee and suspended another for separately describing the Knicks' first loss with Lin as a starter as a "Chink in the armor." In marginalizing the Jeremy Lin story, that newsman actually illustrated its real importance. This newfound basketball force has forced Americans to take a deep breath and think. He has forced America to realize it has become too comfortable compartmentalizing Asian Americans with a list of stereotypes that are misguided, mean-spirited and just plain wrong. Such as that one that says, you know, they can't play sports.

"The one thing I think is interesting about this whole Jeremy Linsanity is that it has forced us to think about how we think and talk about race in general,'' Maeda said. "Asian Americans have long been put into this safe little slot, and Jeremy has taken us out of those places.''

What blesses my heart most about Jeremy Lin is not so much his achievement as an Asian American in a sport that is dominated by non-Asian. It is really his Christian faith that is most inspiring. Before each game, Lin and his Christian teammate Landry Fields would geek out with a handshake ritual:

1)    Fields and Lin exchange snappy high fives with opposite hands

2)    They pretend to don glasses, because nerds wear glasses

3)    Fields, like Lin a devout Christian, presents Lin with an invisible Bible

4)    Lin whizzes through the pages. Must be a speed reader.

5)    Old and New Testaments read, both players remove their glasses…

6)    ….and stick the in shirt pockets…

7)    Both players then point skyward to their God before taking the floor

Lin's is a story of perseverance and persistence, of hard work and humility. But most of all, Lin's is a story of strong faith in Jesus Christ, of devotion to Bible study and prayer and of commitment to spreading the Gospel whenever he gets the opportunity.

"Much of it comes down to humility," Lin said. "We as Christians are called to be humble. And if we really understand the Gospel, we will be humble. We should be humble, and understand that everything that is good comes from God."

What a testimony!

It is right for every Christian to testify about God. Give thanks to the LORD….make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles…….[Ps 105:1-10 NIV]

Jeremy Lin has the right idea about humility. It will keep us from becoming proud and forget our God when we are doing well. "But I am the LORD your God, [who brought you] out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me…..” [Hos 13:4-8 NIV]

Jeremy Lin and many others before him are great examples of witness. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart……No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees! [Heb 12:1-12 NIV]

We who believe have been made righteous through Christ. We are blessed as we continue to live a life of righteousness. “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner…..The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out……Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. [Prov 13:5-6,9,21,22 NIV]