Well, I am back! I doubt many of you noticed, but I haven’t posted in a while. The last time I posted I told y’all about a coffee table I have been working on… it’s still is not done. To be honest, I have hit a lull. I had been going at it hard and heavy the past few weeks and then got a bit discouraged.
Kara and I share a lot of interests, but we really are almost polar opposites in a lot of ways. I am not exaggerating one bit when I say Kara is the most disciplined, hardest working person I have ever known. It was one of the first things that attracted me to her. Unfortunately this area is probably where we differ the most.
I love planning, dreaming, and brainstorming, but a lot of times I lose motivation when it comes to implement, especially when I don’t know exactly how something is going to work. I dread it and procrastinate like crazy. That is the current situation with this table. I have a few tricky problems I have to figure out, but I keep putting them off. I know there are plenty of you who can share in my struggle, so today I have a motivational story to share with you.
Some of you may have already heard about the “Lin-sanity” taking over New York, but I doubt many, if any of you know how incredible this story truly is. It has developed even further as I write this.
Jeremy Lin had a four year stand out basketball career at Harvard, but wasn’t sure he would get a shot in the NBA. He got invited to play in the summer league and eventually got on with the Golden State Warriors. He didn’t play much and was cut at the beginning of this season so they could sign another player. He was then signed by the Houston Rockets, but cut a short time later so they could make room for another player.
The New York Knick’s starting point guard was hurt early this season so they signed Jeremy Lin to a non-guaranteed contract to fill in while he was injured. He played just a bit while the starting guard was injured, but after he returned, they sent Lin to the D-League, (the NBA’s minor league). He only played 22 minutes during his first month with the team.
The Knicks have struggled all season and with their two best players injured, they had just a few days to decide whether they would keep Jeremy Lin and pay his contract for the full season or cut him and give someone else a shot. Without much to lose (just three days before the deadline) the Knicks gave Jeremy Lin one last shot to prove himself. He scored 25 points and had 7 assists, leading the team to victory.
Wanting to see if this was a fluke or not, Head Coach Mike D’antoni decided to start Lin the next game. He answered the call by scoring 28, dishing out 8 more assists and leading them to another victory. The next two games he continued on his torrid pace setting the record for most points scored by anyone in their first 4 career starts and pushing his teams winning streak to a season best 4 in a row.
Most of this success came against the leagues bottom dwellers and many suspected this Cinderella story would end against the NBA’s most storied franchise, the Lakers, in the most Famous Arena in the World, Madison Square Garden. Instead, the story took an incredible leap. Going head to head against Kobe Bryant, Jeremy Lin scored a career high 38 points and beat the Lakers! Many reporters said it was the most memorable game they had witnessed at MSG. The crowd started chanting his name Jer-e-my, Jer-e-my and M-V-P as he shot free throws.
Even with his meteroic rise Jeremy remained humble. He refused to take credit for the winning streak, giving his teammates and coaches credit for the turnaround. News soon got out that he was sleeping on his brother’s couch, because he didn’t know if he would be in New York the entire season.
Tonight as I was writing this post, I was afraid I was going to be a day late. Most of the night the Knicks were trailing the lowly Toronto Raptors by double digits, but ultimately it provided the opportunity for the legend to continue to grow. Trailing by 3, with about a minute to go, Lin made a layup an got fouled, sinking his free throw to tie the game. Then after a defensive stop, he hit a three pointer with .5 seconds remaining to win the game. Their 7th in a row.
I hope Jeremy’s story will encourage some you to keep working hard and to believe that dreams really do come true. I love listening to him in his interviews talk about his passion for the game and all the hard work he has put in.
Kara and I truly believe that if you are pursuing what you are created to do, God will open doors for you to achieve what others believe is impossible. Even though we are still in the early stages of our own dream journey, we have gotten to see “coincidences” that we can’t possibly take credit for. That being said, we also have worked incredibly hard to make sure when God does open a door or provide an opportunity, we are ready for it. It is obvious Jeremy Lin had also been working incredibly hard, waiting for his opportunity to shine.
So, what’s the lesson here? Don’t give up on your dreams! You may be a few years away from achieving your goals. . . or a few days (like Jeremy). Either way, it is worth the sacrifice to continue to follow your heart and pursue the purpose the Lord has for your life!
‘Til tomorrow.
UPDATE- Tim just found this article and we had to share. Jeremy thoughts line up right with ours and we’re so excited for his accomplishments but more than that, we are inspired by his story!
They’re calling it “LinSanity” in New York, and it hit fever pitch tonight after Lin’s game winning 3-pointer with less than a second to play in the Knicks win. He finished with 27 points and a career-high 11 assists.
But despite the “LinSanity” he seems to have his head on straight.
The Knicks overnight phenom Jeremy Lin quotes from a section of John Piper’s book Don’t Waste Your Life in an online testimony recorded last June:
God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life.
Lin then adds the following commentary about his coming to treasure Jesus more than basketball success:
When Paul wrote in Philippians to press on for an upward prize, he was living for that, and it made his life meaningful (Philippians 3:15). And I realized I had to learn to do the same. I had to learn to stop chasing the perishable prizes of this earth, I had to stop chasing personal glory, I had to learn how to give my best effort to God and trust him with the results. I have to learn to have enough faith to trust in his grace and to trust in his sovereign and perfect plan. I had to submit my will, my desires, my dreams — give it all up to God and say, “Look, I am going to give my best effort, go on the court and play every day for you, and I’m going to let you take care of the rest.” This is something I struggle with every day. . . . Playing for great stats is nice, but that satisfaction — that happiness — is only from game to game. It’s temporary.
Indeed, only in God’s presence is there “fullness of joy,” and only at his right hand are there “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Just wanted to let you know that after spending 4 years at a job I hate I finally worked up the courage to quit my job yesterday. Even though I dont like it, it has been a secure job and I like security! Amen!? At the end of last week I was offered a job at a drug and alcohol rehab center (which is in a field that Im very much passionate about) but it meant taking a MAJOR pay cut..we’re talking half of what I make now. After some serious praying and discussion with my husband we decided that it was time for me to take the risk and make this giant leap of faith. It continues to greatly encourage me when I read your posts that I’ve made the right choice. Wish me luck!
Katie!!! Congratulations! The happiness you will gain from working in a field you are passionate about will more than make up for the money. Security is nice, but remember you’re security comes from knowing that God will take care of you, not from a bank account or 401K. 🙂 I am so excited for you and for the many lives you will touch because you took the leap of faith to do what you were made to do! Woohooo!!!
Just read your post about Jeremy- so inspiring! So cool that he is also quoting John Piper. God is so awesome using these athletes as a light…thank you for posting about this!
Wow! Who would have thought such inspiration could come from basketball! jk I loved this post. And, I think it’s refreshing to have someone in the public eye recognize that all things come from God. Like you said, we just need to be ready for the experiences, by continually improving our talents and working towards our dreams.
Loved it- thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing this story! I must live under a rock because I hadn’t heard about it yet. But, oh my goodness, I’m so glad I now have. I think of my teenage nephew–a basketball player and fan–and am so thankful there are athletes like Jeremy for him to look at. And I think of myself and feel revitalized to keep living my life for Him. Again, thanks for sharing this with us Tim!