my linsanity

Seeing Jeremy Lin blow up my newsfeed this week on status after status, article after article, and video after video really makes it hard NOT to want to learn and talk about him. Lin has taken the NBA by storm in a flurry of astounding victories. However, as media writers and sports commentators have agreed, what makes Lin truly sensational isn't just his stats or his shots (which ARE amazing), but his 'underdog' story and his humility. The truth is, not only is this guy talented, but he is RELATABLE--to anyone who has ever dared to dream. And as anyone with a dream can tell you, there will ALWAYS be skepticism and obstacles. Lin's story is one of perseverance and big dreams coming true--a story we all want for ourselves. Though not all of us can be superstars, we can live vicariously through one whose story is not TOO far removed from our own. It gives us a renewed hope in society; in hard work being recognized--something I feel is often buried under the 'networking, connections and luck' mindset of corporate America. After all, I do believe that anyone can be great, but not everyone can be pro-active or patient enough. You have to REALLY love something in order to be willing to fight for it...in the face of ANYTHING. If you do keep up the fight, the world will notice. Lin shows us an example of that coming into fruition.

Interestingly enough, what really stuck out to me in the face of this weeks events is not so much what Lin has shown Asian Americans can do, but more so what Lin has shown CHRISTIANS can do. While fulfilling your dream is awesome, even more awesome is being able to SHARE GOD to people through that dream (ok so there was also Tim Tebow, but he didn't blow up my newsfeed as much :P). Lin's success has not only tossed him, but (bless him for doing this :)) also God (again) into the limelight, and immediately Matthew 5:16 came to mind--

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

All this "Linsanity" could not have come at a better time . While Lin and I share the obvious Asian-American-Christian-ness, after watching one of his videos, I found that we also share a similar testimony (which I'm sure many of you guys can relate to too). On the surface I was always a 'good Christian girl' and I had no problems believing in God's promises for peace. However, I was really reluctant in undergoing the transformation God also calls us to have in our lives. I knew our purpose as Christians is to spread God's word, but I wanted to reach the goals I had set for my career (and future) first. My relationship with Him was conditional: I would follow 'God's will', but when it was convenient and in the context of my ideas for success.

At the beginning of my second year of med school, God really humbled me. He let me get into situations that brought me to a low point, but also made me realize how without Him I am nothing; how without His purpose in my work, things are meaningless; and how I was selfishly trying to control a future that wasn't mine in the first place. God made us for a reason--to tell others about him. Jobs, locations, friends can and will change, but GOD doesn't change. His will to save others doesn't change. And in everything, His purpose can STILL be accomplished. God has taught me the insurmountable joy that comes from putting my time into glorifying Him because it is CONSISTENT, part of something greater, and lasts for eternity :)

I used to be conflicted because I felt my fellowship/church/devotional time took away from my studying/research/career-boosting time. It was one or the other, God or education, and I always had to compromise one to work on another (note: I was still maintaining time-wasting things D:) However, like Lin states in his testimony, I realized that God and my career cannot be separate--they work best TOGETHER. As God says, "No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24)."  By letting God take the reigns on my career, in no way does that mean I can't succeed. The only difference is that it is God benefiting from the success, not me, and the things in my life that are not beneficial are edited out. I succeed for God; not for myself. Lin has been a great example of the potential of success for glorifying God :)

Therefore, as Christians, the motivation to succeed (and in my case, study :P) should not be to get the highest scores, get the most prestigious positions, or make the most money. Rather, we should be motivated to succeed so that people can see God working in us; so that we can fulfill God's purpose  in terms of who He wants us to reach--whether it be doctors, patients, accountants, clients, teachers, students...or in Lin's case, the NBA audience :P. We can't reach them if we are not credible in the first place! And regardless of our levels of 'success', God has a purpose for putting us there. If success (in the eyes of society) does occur, we can graciously receive them. If it doesn't, God has other plans, and you will succeed in God's kingdom if He can use you in your situation. In everything, glorifying God comes first (after all, everything is His gift to us) ;)
Finally, a verse that has been a great reminder:

⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

 ¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

 ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 -1 Timothy 4:7-16