The Phil Files

Sometimes things turn out great — better than you can hope and bigger than you can imagine. Such is the story of Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks. Everyone has been waiting for bubble to burst, and it may burst, but for at least one week, the NBA, New York, and much of Asia are awash in Jeremy Lin Mania.

I want to share an angle that may be new to most folks. Shortly after Karen, a young Chinese woman I study with over Skype, began to contemplate giving her life to Christ, God sent a volunteer to her school in Thailand. This volunteer was a recent Harvard graduate. She wanted Karen to reassure me that she was a conservative Christian from Harvard — in other words, she believed the Bible and trusted passionately in Jesus. She was just what Karen needed as she confessed Christ and was baptized. These two have worked together in a nearby church where they live in small town in Thailand.

The odds on someone who was a Christian landing in Karen’s life at just the right time are staggering — unless you count on the prayers of those who love Karen and her sister. The interesting twist to this story was that as I was talking with Karen this morning, reminding her that God was at work in her life even when she couldn’t see it, she started talking about Jeremy Lin. She was excited that someone from Asia (his grandparents are from mainland China and Taiwan), was so vocal about speaking about God and his faith in Jesus. That this was opening eyes to folks who would not have ever even given it a second thought. What’s more, the friend that God sent into Karen’s life has a close connection to him.

I don’t know what will come of Jeremy — if his faith holds out in the face of the wilting pressure and temptation of the NBA (I sure hope and will pray that it does shine brightly and it sure seems genuine) — but I know for at least this moment, his hard work, perseverance, faith, and humility have opened doors in places that no one else could. And for that, I’m thankful.