The Chinese Me

I spent a couple weeks in China several years ago and really had a good time and met some amazing people. I witnessed a miracle while I was there too. God, in His providence, made it such that I was asked to play basketball with a group of college aged Chinese and naturally I couldn’t resist. So I played, and the miracle was that I dominated. It wasn’t just that I played well (left handed mind you) but being a few inches taller than everyone else I was able to slam that ball back in their faces just like the professionals do. They loved it (well those on my team) they kept comparing me to Michael Jordan. I did explain to them that I have never played this well before but they thought I was just being humble, but really I was as shocked at my level of skill as they were. I have never been able to repeat that performance believe me just ask those I play with now.

There was one guy who couldn’t really speak or understand english that just shadowed me and repeated everything I said. I called him ‘Parrot’. But one of the guys I got to know better after all this I called Dakota. His American name was actually Pine but that just seemed like a strange name so I named him after two of our more northern states. Looking back on that I wish I would have named him something different. Now that I have made that mistake if I ever have children they will be spared the unthought about bad name. They may still get a strange name but at least they will know that I thought about it.

Dakota and I spent a good deal of time together and I got to share the gospel with him which he was very receptive to and very eager to know as much as possible. It was a great time and I came to realize that this guy is (at the time) exactly like me. And therefore is the Chinese Me. Maybe I should have named him that.