By TC Lo (盧天賜); February 17, 2012 (Revised April 30, 2012)
Sometime ago, I read a book (Note 1) and came across the following interesting story:
C.S. Lewis has a remarkable little illustration in his book The Screwtape Letters. The senior devil whose name is “Screwtape” coaching the younger one on how to seduce a person who hangs between belief and disbelief in the Enemy (the Enemy here being God). So the younger one sets to work on keeping this man from turning to God. But in the end, after all the tricks and seductions, the individual is “lost to the enemy.” When the defeated junior devil return, the senior one laments and asks, “How did this happen? How did you let this one get away?” I don’t know,” says the young imp. “But every morning he used to take a long walk, just to be quiet and reflective. And then, every evening he would read a good book. Somehow during those books and walks, the Enemy must have gotten his voice through to him.” “That’s where you made your mistake,” says the veteran. “You should have allowed him to take that walk purely for physical exercise. You should have had him read that book just so he could quote it to others. In allowing him to enjoy pure pleasures, you put him with the Enemy’s reach.”
Jeremy Lin (林書豪) has a secret to his success: He plays not for money, not for fame, not even for winning, but for pure joy. And in the process, this new NBA rising star brings glory to God through his games and interviews and testimonies. Jeremy wears a wristband on which the words “In Jesus’ name, I play” were written. Even the number 17 he chose on his jersey has some spiritual meaning: Seven (7) on the right represents God for seven is a complete number in the Bible; and one (1) on the left stands for Jeremy himself. Two digits putting together reminds him that he needs God to be with him side by side all the time. No one can stay up on the top forever, you can be sure that one day (or one game) he would be over-trumped by others. But so what! he says that when he is to yield himself to God and let God control the outcome of the play, he becomes carefree. And as a result, he acquires inner peace and joy and becomes more focused on the game knowing everything—winning or losing—is in the hands of God.
The purer your habits (walking or reading or playing basket ball), the closer to God you will come. This principle, I believe, applies also to our striving to be a good person. Moralizing from impure motives takes us away from God. Christians are not to live a good outward life but to live out a good life which is in us.
An unabridged article written by Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education (TIME April 30, 2012, page 28, a special issue on “The 100 Most Influential People in the World) reads:
Jeremy Lin’s story is great lesson for kids everywhere because it debunks and defangs so many of the prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold children back. He’s dispelled the idea that Asian-American guards somehow couldn’t hack it in the NBA—and that being a world class athlete on the court is somehow at odds with being an excellent student off the court.
Contrary to what you might read, Jeremy, 23, is no overnight sensation. In fact, he achieved success the old-fashion way: he earned it. He worked hard and stayed humble. He lives the right way; he plays the right way.
It is great to see good value rewarded in professional sports because that’s not always the case, Often it’s the bling (Note), the glam, the individual that gets celebrated—not the team and working together to advance a goal bigger than oneself. Jeremy cares only about one thing—winning. And I don’t care whether you are an Asian-American kid, white, black or Hispanic, Jeremy’s story tells you that if you show grit, discipline and integrity, you too can get an opportunity to overcome the odds.
Note 1: “The Grand Weaver” by Ravi Zacharias; pp.87-88.
