For me, I think the Lord wanted me to win to put a smile on

Hear, O listener, the humble yet powerful words of Michael Chang: “For me, I think the Lord wanted me to win to put a smile on Chinese people’s faces.” Though spoken by an athlete at the height of victory, these words carry with them not pride, but purpose. They remind us that triumph is not for the self alone, but can be an offering to others, a gift to a people, and even an act of divine will.

The meaning of this reflection is profound. Michael Chang does not see his win as a mere personal achievement, nor as a step toward glory or wealth. Instead, he views it as service—an opportunity to bring joy and hope to others. The smiles of his people become more important than the trophy in his hand. In this humility lies true greatness, for the victory transcends the individual and becomes shared by the many.

The origin of such wisdom lies in faith and tradition. Many champions through history have believed their victories were not their own, but blessings from the divine, bestowed for a higher purpose. Ancient athletes in Olympia dedicated their wins to the gods; knights in Christendom pledged their triumphs to God and country. In Confucian culture, the idea of honoring one’s family and community above oneself has always been paramount. Chang’s words stand at the crossroads of these traditions: a young man, gifted with victory, yet conscious that his joy must be shared to be complete.

History gives us a powerful parallel in Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When he won gold, it was not simply a personal triumph—it was a blow against the false pride of Nazi ideology, and a beacon of hope for those oppressed by racial hatred. Owens’ victory placed smiles on the faces of millions who saw in him not only a man but a symbol. So too did Chang’s victory, as he became the first Asian-American man to win a Grand Slam title, inspire pride and hope far beyond himself.

His words also reveal a truth about the role of the athlete, the artist, the leader. Their achievements are not isolated moments but communal celebrations. The smile of the crowd, the joy of the people, the sense of shared uplift—these are what give victory its meaning. Without them, even the greatest triumphs feel hollow. It is this perspective that keeps success from becoming arrogance and transforms ambition into service.

Practically, this lesson calls to us all. Whatever victories we achieve—in work, in study, in life—we must ask ourselves: who do we uplift with them? Do our actions bring smiles, do they instill hope, do they serve something larger than ourselves? If they do, then our victories, no matter how small, carry eternal weight.

So, O listener, take this wisdom into your heart: seek not only to win, but to bring joy to others through your victories. Let your achievements become gifts, let your triumphs become offerings, and let your smile awaken smiles in the faces of those around you. For in this, your life ceases to be only your own and becomes a source of strength for generations.

Thus the teaching endures: true victory is not measured in medals or records, but in the smiles it creates, the hope it awakens, and the light it brings to the world.