The Rest of the Linsanity Story: Unstoppable Voices

The Rest of the Linsanity Story: Unstoppable Voices

What makes the Linsanity story so wonderful is that the context of his story is such a triumphant showcase of what a person can do even in the midst of systemic bigotry or hurtful stereotype-casting. It is a story we all connect to as one of perseverance and going after the American dream. It is also an experience or story that many Americans, not just minority Americans can relate to: the story of being unnoticed and told that we do not matter (as an underdog) as much as others by society at large. It is the story of why we were so surprised by Jeremy Lin’s success. The fact that we were all quite shocked by a no name non-drafted, non-division I baller becoming a big sensation in a big name sport that is predominantly populated by African Americans and Whites tells us a bit of the rest of the story.

The rest of the story is about how someone like Lin could have gone so unnoticed by so many capable scouts. The real story in the midst of even celebrating that at last, we have another great Asian American male role model is also about the AA community not having many positive role models or even being an integral part of our American history even though some of us have been in America for over 6 generations or more. What has remained silent is that many Americans and even Asian Americans do not know much about AA history. Due to various factors that are beyond the scope of this blog post, AA’s are not as outspoken as other minorities and have not been acknowledged as much in mainstream American society or history.

For example, prior to Lin, most Americans could guess that there were not many AA’s who have ever played NBA pro ball (4 to be exact), not many would know the rest of the story. This narrative is about Wat Misaka who was not only the first ever Asian American NBA baller, he was also the first person of Color to ever play in pro ball. He was actually a predecessor to Jackie Robinson whom many pay homage to. But why is it that most Americans do not celebrate Misaka as much? Do we know that his story is a great story of hope? Do we know that he opened the door for people of Color to participate in pro sports as equal team members? Do we know the rest of Wat’s story?

Like Lin, even though Misaka’s story has a great plot and ending, there is an important part of the story that rarely gets shared. That untold story is about how Misaka came out of so much adversity in order to be the first or be a role model for so many. Wat remained steadfast at a time when racism was the flavor of the day during and post-WWII. While Misaka’s name is more famous now, Misaka’s story did not begin with much fanfare or words, but with much abilities and ball skills.

Misaka was a winner like Lin. Although small in size (5’7”), he led his own high school to a state championship. As one of the few AA’s who has ever played college basketball, in 1943-44, Wat helped lead the Utah team to a 18-3 record and a NIT bit and NCAA championship that was played (you guessed it) at Madison Square Gardens. Because he played for the Univ of Utah during that season nearby Camp Topaz, an internment camp of about 8,100 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and placed to reside behind barbed wires, Wat became famous especially to proud Japanese Americans in the tragic camps. Wat was the hope for his down-trodden community through his ball-handling. He reminded them of happier times where the game matter and other things like racism did not hold them in prison. He also reminded them of the American dream that indeed we can pursue all that we desire no matter what color our skin.

After his bid for national championship, like other patriotic Americans, he went into the armed services for 2 years to serve his country. As an American patriot, he fought on the same teams as the men who interned his family, friends and community. Before returning home to a bid to play for the BBA (which became NBA) for (you guessed it?) NY Knicks due to the inclusiveness of then owner Ned Irish who also enrolled the first African American baller for the Knicks in 1950.

Misaka inspired many Japanese Americans to love basketball. That is why there exist in AA communities, a phenomenal called AA basketball leagues. These leagues were created for AA’s to play in the midst of the reality of the subtle or blatant bigotry that can happen in the great sports of America. In these AA basketball leagues, many of these ballers found respect that they could not find in mainstream.

But the story does not end with the odiousness of racism in sports or America, it ends with the hope of a people finding their own voice in the midst of so much dishonor or disrespect. What is amazing is that from a quiet Japanese American community, we find people of justice prevailing to honor Wat for his role as a legend, not only in Basketball, but in American history. In 2008, a documentary film was made by an Asian American and her husband to honor Misaka’s story. In August of the next year, Wat finally got the credit that was due him after sixty years of silence as he was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his role in basketball and history. Again, the triumph of creating the rest of the story so that others will know that indeed all of us matter is a great secret story of the Asian American community.

That is the untold story or the rest of the Linsanity story. Like Misaka, Lin’s story is now told to millions in America and to the world, even though it began with meager undesirable plots. Lin’s & Misaka’s stories are about unstoppable courage, faith and voice in America. And we are all the better for these quieter stories. (I stand before you as an official NY Knicks fan now. I even know how to live stream the games. Unstoppable voices are stories that motivate me to live better.)

***The film is called Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story directed by Bruce & Christine Toy Johnson.

Servant Leaders Never Quit in Doing Good.

Recently, I was reminded again about the contrast between self-serving and servant leadership. They are very subtle entities that affect our communities of service. It can be blatantly demonstrated or quietly unnoticed. These are things that increase a community's ability to grow and mature together.

Self-serving is so not what Christians want to be; and yet when it happens it is liken to what the world may be about, i.e. selfishness or self-absorbed leadership. Self-serving leadership is also subtle for it harkens to the motivation of why a leader does what she or he wills to do. So, it can often be masked or hidden. Self-absorbed leadership happens a lot more in this world because it at times seems to make more sense than servant leadership.

This non-sensible reality of servant leadership was brought to my mind by the experience of a friend of mine. Instead of being appreciated as he diligently served, he was made to feel slighted by some of his supervising leaders. And yet, he continued to sacrificially serve in such a way that he fought for others that served with him to have a different experience, i.e. one where others were appreciated by him as their supervising leader. I was very humbled by his heart to continue to serve even though he was disappointed by his own supervising leaders to affirm him in the midst of some challenging ministry events.

What happened to my friend reminded me of this crazy maker: real servant leaders do not QUIT because they did not receive what their hearts long for from their own leaders. You see, when disappointments or hurts happen, their motivation surfaces to the top. It often reveals to them and others that their service in the first place was NOT for others' affirmation or validation or personal gain. It shows that all along that they did it for God, and for the dignity of people. These leaders look to others and oversee others' needs and ask God to help them to create something different than what they may have experienced themselves. This is a redemptive picture of true service, grace and humility. It is a picture of good coming out of hurt or pain caused by others.

Servant leadership breaks the cycle of bad leadership and resolves to never give up the values of the kingdom and people. It fights for God's kingdom values and fights for people to have an experience in community that is full of dignity and worth. Servant leaders who have been the recipients of negative leadership are given a choice to just mope or cry out for a better day or leadership team and be victims, or they can resolve to learn from what they did not receive. True servant leaders instead choose to create a different leadership environment for others because their hearts are to love and to serve in spite of themselves. What they choose to be about or do really does not make any sense to those who do not follow the Servant King for it can only happen by the grace of Jesus. These leaders choose to look to Christ to turn their wounds, disappointments, and yearning for dignity into humble service for others.

Being in community with friends who live out servant leadership has enriched my life. For in watching their lives and choices, I have been made a better person and leader. These servant leaders have influenced people and me in their community for good in spite of deficient role models of leaders in their own lives. Indeed servant leaders never quit in doing good for others no matter the pain!

My Love-Hate Relationship with Mike

My Love-Hate Relationship with Mike or Lessons in Contextualization

June 14, 2011 by aawolsisters

By Margaret Yu

I have a love-hate relationship with Mike. No, not a person, but the lapel microphone I call my friend, Mike.

I love Mike because it helps me to have a voice. I have a soft voice and do not like to raise it. Mike allows me to speak in my own style without screaming. Specifically, I love Mike because it was made to give speakers the freedom to teach with hands free for other instructional purposes. (This was Ray Litke’s intent for the lapel mic when he invented it in 1957.) Since I love moving around as a speaker and speaking with my hands, I hate hand-held microphones. So, when Mike is working for me, I am able to bring God’s messages while being freely myself.

I hate Mike as well, as it was made (I believe) for men in mind or those who wear stiff collars or lapels or shirts, and pants to hold onto that transmitter box. Mike has altered the way I prepare for speaking engagements for God since I know for Mike to work, I must wear clothing that will allow Mike to be worn on me for effect. This means, as soon as I hear from God that I am to speak at a venue, I automatically think of what to wear. (Okay, a little bit of this could be vanity?) Since I want to speak freely and be heard as well, I have to find clothing that represents me and yet can be strong enough to hold my friend, Mike.

This is no small feat. The times where I have forgotten to wear ‘special speaking’ clothes, i.e. clothing with strong collar or lapels or pants or skirts with a thick waist that clips onto that box, I have had to improvise with creativity so that my voice will be heard.

On quite a few occasions, I have underestimated the ‘softness’ of my clothing and have had to pay a price. (Oh, they were pretty dresses or blouses but not strong enough to hold onto Mike.) In these scenarios, I am about to speak within minutes and Mike is not cooperating with my choice of clothing. Desperate and wanting to be heard while moving freely, I have had to go find men in the audience who could help me as I borrow their belts or other clothing just for the presentation.

Usually these men are very bewildered, but once they understand, they become very compassionate. Often afterwards, they become very sympathetic to women speakers. We can laugh at my creativity as they bond with me and have entered into my world. Sometimes, these men even get the most out of my messages or presentations as a result of me borrowing their belts.

Then, there are times when no clothing can be found that is appropriate for Mike. Last December at our church women’s brunch, I realized that only Mike’s cousin hand-held was around, so I had to make it work. I just spoke and held on to the cousin; but I felt a bit limited and not quite myself. I have learned that I will ONLY hold on to the cousin as the last resort; for it is still not my true speaking self.

Though I have a love-hate relationship with Mike, I have learned a lot from it. Mike is a symbol for me of what things are like when they are NOT intended for you in its invention. I am pretty sure that Ray Litke was not thinking of women who could wear other types of clothing besides stiff collars and pants.

Oftentimes in life, when something is not designed with diverse individuals in view, it will not be as helpful. In fact, Mike is a great reminder to me that many things are not meant for me. And yet, as a woman leader, I must figure out how to lead around it. Often times, many things are designed for men in mind and these tools or resources are more geared towards Western American values and realities that do not relate to my own community or minority context. With these tools, I must decipher or translate the good into my own setting. (How many of us have sat in classrooms, seminary auditoriums, leadership venues, or training centers where we have had to interpret the material for our own community, where we say to ourselves, This would never work where I live, but I can tweak this…?)

Yet, isn’t that what women or minority leaders do! We must be creative and learn to work around things like my friend Mike.

And finally, as a person who is involved in leadership development, I must continually ask myself the question, How am I creating venues and training with respect to diverse audiences? I must think about their context as I plan on creating tools or resources, being vigilant in creating materials and growth ideas that fit into each person’s context as much as possible. I must not assume that they will all wear stiff collared shirts or soft pastel dresses. I must contextualize. No one size fits all.

Once we intentionally design tools with that in mind, we will see the importance of creating space and place for their realities to be acknowledged and heard. Since no one size fits all, we serve in humility with respect for the dignity of another’s stories and realities. We allow ourselves to enter into their story and not demand them to just enter into ours or to insist on having them subconsciously or consciously defend their existence. Instead, we respect their stories. Thus, we learn to serve and love more like Christ who entered into our world and became flesh, Grace, and Truth for us and made sense of our realities with us.

So, if you are a minority leader, what symbols have reminded you that you are different than others? And how have you been able to creatively go around these barriers that may short-circuit your own voice or power?

And if you are a person who is involved in creating LD material, what helps you to design tools with diversity in mind? What has helped you to enter into other’s realities as you seek to empower leaders? Finally, how has Jesus been a guide to you as you contextualize God’s truths to diverse people?

(I would love to hear your comments. I want to learn from your story.)

The unexpected fruit of attending school...

As I was reflecting over how grateful I am for being able to learn each quarter, I was surprised by an unexpected fruit. Sure, I am blessed with the fruit of learning about God and his people and the world. I am also enriched by how His Word is so unifying and true. Personally, I am experiencing a renewal as a result of God and my great professors who not only teach theology, but live out God's heart and love for people. I am personally humbled by it all thus far.

Aside from these great rewards of seminary, the greatest unexpected fruit is that seminary is growing my muscle of increasing my voice. In the last three quarters, I have had to wrestle with what I think about God and life. I have had to force myself to critically think about what I believe. With schools valuing not only critical thinking, but also original thinking, I have had to reflect and decipher where I stand on many topics.

This has indeed helped me to increase my voice. As an Asian American who would rather just agree with others, I have learned the value of having my own distinct ideas and opinions. As a woman leader who at times prefer to defer to others, I cannot do that in seminary.

The other great thing about seminary is that they make you write so many papers and force you to formulate your ideas and thoughts. I have sensed in my soul, a more ease in being myself and listening to my own voice. Having to write papers so often has taught me to continue to speak my voice....no matter how faint or unsure I may feel. It has exhorted me to continue to speak my voice for God and for those who cannot speak it.

Finally, as someone who often serves and empowers others, attending seminary has empowered me to speak and grow as a leader. It has allowed me to not just focus on others and what they have to say; it is teaching me to listen to my own voice. It has nurtured in me a need to care for myself or grow myself so as to better encourage others to grow. Seminary is teaching me to not just grow or speak my own voice, but equipping me to help others find and grow their own voices for His Kingdom sake.

This unexpected fruit is well worth the investment of my tuition.

Waiting: a good gauge-reading of my heart.

It has been said that how we wait for others is often times an indication of our hearts. If we are able to wait well and in a calm way, people will say that we are 'patient'. The converse of course then, perhaps, we are impatient or so? What is often not emphasized is the condition of our hearts as we wait. Waiting gives us a window into our soul and core. Our relationship with waiting is a strong gauge of how we respond or handle power. Hence, it is a helpful guide that may explain how we lead.

I do not like waiting usually. It makes me feel like I am wasting my time. I was on a phone call recently where they kept putting me on hold. I was getting really peeved. Then, it occurred to me, I was beginning to feel like I was more important than the other person on the end of that line.

If I feel like I need to be first or things need to happen quickly or in my time frame, then I will get impatient. It is here that checking the gauge light to see why and what this means will instruct me about my heart. If I find it hard to wait, sometimes, it means that I believe that others should jump when I tell them to jump. I am the one with the power; really the universe revolves around ME. And I am all the happy for that. In this picture, I have all of the power alone while others in my concocted world only act as subordinates to my power.

In doing that, I am missing out on serving as a leader. As any parent would know, sometimes the journey is about the timing and the waiting makes it God defined. I must be able to value others as much as I value my own time table or desires for quick results in order to enjoy the wait and not miss out the special moments in life. I must learn that sometimes it is God’s time table that I must rely on and not mine own. If I am not there, I must ask God to help me with this. (Having children or dealing with others who are very different from us are good growth steps for those who HATE waiting....Slow it down, and smell the flowers and get to know the people.... and truly live life in the moment.)

As an Asian American leader, I have also noticed the other extreme of waiting as I become self-absorbed by my own passivity as I wait. Because I am a survivor or the daughter of immigrant parents, sometimes I just wait for others to act while I sit. Or I just expect others to tell me what to do, because I believe they should lead and I should defer to my authority. So, I just wait for permission from others to do something because I want to be respectful of structures or others. But the real focus here is that I am depending on others to lead me or do for me that which maybe I should do for myself or others. Here, I am more comfortable with the ‘ease’ of me waiting. It all depends on me being dependent on others. But nonetheless, it is still thinking about me and my comfort and not a broader concern about the greater good for others.

As I look deeper into my gauge light, I may see something even more troublesome. Honestly, sometimes I wait in passivity because in my core, I believe that the only real legit solution or power resides in the majority culture. As a minority in America, I grew up with a deep sense that I was never good enough and that I will never quite measure up to the majority culture. Early on as an AA leader, I would often times find myself looking over my shoulders facing doubts about not being good enough while desiring deeply for someone to affirm me for being me and not having to be WHITE enough.

We can see that the gauge light of waiting is not just about power, but ultimately how we see ourselves and how we relate to others? That is where these moments about waiting can be such a gift to us. If only we would give ourselves space and time to reflect with God, ourselves and close friends what it all means, we would all benefit from those times of waiting.

As this gauge light has helped me to see ME, I found that that I actually have the authority, I am just so doggone uncomfortable with it. So, I waffle and sometimes go back to my ‘go to’ as an AA woman: deference. This indicates to me that I see others as having power and me with NONE. It is a struggle that has been blessed with dear friends who will not let me go back to deference without speaking truth and love to me. They will not relent in their desire to see me empowered to serve others for God sake.

With my core view of myself as not ever being good enough, I have empowered myself to seek the validation of the Savior while enjoying the company of brothers and sisters who help me believe in myself when or where I cannot. I find that the only way to diffuse my self-doubt or self-absorption with being good enough is to know that I am the beloved by God and others. I learn that as I rid of my own need for affirmation, then I am able to truly be a servant leader whose concerns are about God and his people, and beyond my own need for validation.

So, my relationship with waiting serves as a great gauge to see my true heart especially how I relate to power and see myself. With friends and God, this diagnosis can be turned into a blessing for empowerment.

I would love to hear about what you are learning about yourself when you find yourself not liking or depending too much on the wait. What are you learning about your leadership as you serve others?

day 5 (Not behind our backs)

Empowerment is such a buzz word in leadership circles both Christian or not. There seems to be lots written about this or even training conferences or seminars on this topic. We talk about our own desire to be empowered and for some of us, our longing to also empower others. I get excited about anything pertaining to this discussion.

Just this week, I learned how it is so easy to disempower people or leaders. And it comes from understanding about God's character. Today, I was reading about how God is so sovereign in history and missions, and yet, he never does anything behind our backs. The writer, Selwyn Hughes emphasized how God could have chosen to go that route and just do it all by Himself if he wanted to for certainly he had the power and right to take things in his own hands; we as his created children seem to be botching up so much in general. So, why didn't God just take things into his own hands alone? It would have been be alot more easier and reasonable.

Despite the fact that God is sovereign and in control of all things, He somehow chooses a method in missions that would not allow us to sit out; but to participate with him. God acts this way, because he is not just about his own authority or right to act; but he as God is also a loving and respectful God. His heart is so revealed through the way he invites his people into missions with him. And that he does nothing behind our backs; he wants us to be involved in kingdom work with him and experience a glimpse of his glory with him. His character is to share with us.

When I read Hughes' devo, I was hit with how I myself have so often acted unlike the God that I serve. Unknowingly at times due to my own shortcomings or blindspots, as God's leader I have done things behind people's back and not involved them to lead with me. Due to my own sinfulness or lack of awareness of my actions, I have done this to those I led or those I have sought to empower.

It is so much easier to just act and do it behind people's backs or just get it done on my own. It would at times even feel like less work to just take over. However, to do that would disrespect those who need to be involved in giving input or making decisions. To do this would not be loving that person nor respect their place in the mission of God. The task of empowering leaders is not so facile as some would suggest.

This task I believe is only feasible as we realize that only God is the true empowering Leader. He is the one who can empower us to empower others. He is our leader; he made sure that we were invited to the vital work of the missions with him. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to love and respect and lead the way he does with us. We are able to learn how not to just use our authority to act alone; but to invite others to join us in sharing the joy of leading the mission of God. God help us as we lead!

day 4 (the gauge of my own maturity?)

Friendships where we can disagree and yet still love one another is a rare gem. These kinds of friends who can do that with you are far and between. It requires so much work, intentionality, love, grace, honest communication and a strong sense of self.

As an Asian American woman, learning to disagree with another is not encouraged or at times even allowed depending on which relationships I traverse in. Our collectivism keeps us in our place of looking at how others my perceive our insistence on sticking with our opinions. Our penchant for harmony keeps us kow towing to each other; ensuring we do not rock the boat or dissent from others. (For that would be shame on us!)

Because of my friends who have long-sufferingly stay connected with me while freeing me to be truly myself while not acquiecing to others, I learned to take risks to be me and to speak my mind even when others will not agree or like me as result. The power of having another value you and respect you for having discord or dissenting views, frees the inner Asian American little child who hides in harmony for fear of being found out about how she really feels. Due to my friends' love, care, and prodding or exhorting, I stood the chance of being valued and respected. That invitation looked scary with others; but with a trusted friend, it helped me to stick my neck out to test the waters and found acceptance.

I am so graced with these friends and mentors whom I can debate with and agree to disagree with, while experiencing no fear of the lost of friendships. I am so blessed with friends who love me and accept me. Moreover, because there is lots of dialogue, there is so much growth endowed to me due to these amazing friends. I am stretched even as I am being questioned or challenged. (I am so very fortunate to experience these friendships.)

My prayer is that I would be that to other men and women; to help them be free to disagree with me in care, respect and challenge for godly living.

(Written for KV in mind. Thanks, KV.)