June 7, 2004
-
Unlike Mike
One of my favorite fantasy questions is “If you could be incredibly great at any one sport, which would it be?” For me, that would be basketball. I don’t have dreams of doubling my size and being a widebody center. I’d like to stay at my current lean-and-mean size, but blessed with a superhuman ability to hit the outside shot. Something like 80%. From the half-court line.
In Like Mike (one of my favorite non-thinking feel-good movies) Lil’ Bow Wow plays a schoolkid orphan who stumbles across a pair of old sneakers labelled “MJ.” They grant him fantastic basketball skills, and he goes on to fame and fortune. In the end, the shoes fall apart, but he finds true friendship and family. You know — the important stuff in life. Yada, yada, yada…
At the CEA conference this weekend I had a chance to meet Michael Chang and participate in a smallgroup with him: “Motivation for ministry: living for acceptance and from acceptance.” Among our Asian American generation, he is probably the closest to fulfilling that sports fantasy question. It’s brought him great renown, the ability to retire at the age of 32, and a platform to publically share his faith.
MC is an impressive tennis player, but I was surprised at his gift of public speaking. During his talks on career and singleness, he comes across as genuine and humble, with struggles just like the rest of us. Finding community, finding someone to love him for who he is really is — that doesn’t get easier with international fame and a seven-figure fortune. In fact, it probably gets harder. Loneliness is tough in a sea of strangers, even worse when they know about you. God designed us to be in intimate relations with people, not autograph machines.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend who was much sought-after by many guys. She didn’t like the attention. I asked, “Why? You have so many choices!” She replied, “Yes, but I only want one. And too many choices… it’s distracting, like finding a needle in a haystack.”
So in the end, I’m thankful that my sports fantasy is just that. Unburdened by an unordinary lifestyle. Unable to buy and unleash weapons of mass self-destruction. Unlike Mike. But contentment with godliness is great game. [EHV]
Comments (5)
hehe. did you get an autograph?
And a picture; I couldn’t resist.
But I didn’t ask him about you — figured it would be too creepy. =P
Heh it’s funny to hear you write this, because I’m sure a lot of us dream of being an ultra smart Ph.D. who is successful, highly valued in his field, and hot beyond belief! It’s not as glamorous (except for the hot part), but I could totally see you being a mentor at a conference like this and having a lot of people look up to you. I wonder if you can share any drawbacks of being in your position?
Me, I’m just envious that you have a view of a graveyard outside your new place.
O.k. I guess it’s hard to respond to my question because it’s basically makes you say something to the effect of, “Because I am so great, I therefore have these problems” :-b. Hmm, maybe I will figure out a way to blog about this generically somehow.
That would be a correct assessment. A lot of my writing is already narcissistic, but answering that question would put me over the edge!