About CBT

About Chiong Bin To

Chiong Bin To is a Romanization of the Taiwanese pronunciation of my Chinese name, which in Mandarin is Zhang Min Dao. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, from a mixed Taiwanese home; my mother was benshenren, my father was waishenren. I was educated up until 18 years of age in the public school system. From the pit of Model Minority Hell, I was plucked and placed onto my path by none other than The Most High. From there, I sojourn to discover all the places through which my path leads. I am first and foremost a student of cultures and languages, from which I draw inspiration to fuel my creativity. My mission is to reveal to all people the beauty of each person, in the context of their native cultures, so that God may be glorified as Creator.

On this page, you will find information as to what I'm doing with my life, with posts published in timely fashion below.

Into Uniform

I enlisted in the Army in August of 2012.

April of 2012: As a lit major, I was sitting in a post-modern lit class listening to my peers talk about how nothing has meaning, and I reacted against this presentation of effete intellectual life that might have been my future. I wanted the opposite, and the military quickly emerged as an option.

I realized, in the course of time, that what I was after was masculinity. I was out to remedy the weakness I'd allowed myself to cultivate my entire life, which had culminated with a philosophical dead end in a classroom. Is that an embarrassing thing to admit? I don't care, I have no shame. God was about to redefine a lot of concepts for me, though. I've since realized that masculinity is not putting on cammies and gear and toting a gun to look badass. One doesn't have to join the military to be a man; this path is merely the one on which I have been lead. While I don't have a complete handle on true masculinity, I've learned that it requires the paradox of humble confidence that comes from knowing one's place before God, yet also having a firm faith in what he's doing in me and through me. That humble confidence enables a man to lead people on his team, whether that be his church or his family, to be upright in the sight of the Lord.

What is he doing through me? I don't know the full extent of it yet, but what he's doing in me has enabled what he's done so far, and I believe that trend will continue. Not only has God used the process of joining the Army to teach me about being a man, but he's been using that preparation to teach or further hone the traits and skills I will need to fulfill that role: Leadership by example; Discipline which enables devotion; A spirit of self-sacrifice. The list goes on. I've seen so many changes already, both physical and mental, that have grown my faith. The process can only intensify once I'm actually in, and that gets me excited for what God has in store.

If anybody has questions, ask, and I'll do my best to answer.

posted by Ezra M. Chang at 4/18/2013 09:19:00 AM