Losing:  Anytime, Anywhere.

I recently lost a checkers game to a Kenyan Boy Scout.  I was ahead, then choked at the end.  Someone coughed and distracted me.  The little guy spoke only Swahili, but his riotous laughter, following a double-king-jump, needed no translation.

While in Nairobi, I lost a chess game to a talk radio host from Detroit (Bob, above) who took a half-hour between moves.  I got drowsy.

I also just lost my first ever Jump-Rope-Off to a cocky, eight year old, pigtailed, "Ooh,-aren't-I-great?" little gal named Stacey.  I didn't need the crowd of a hundred or so chanting "Stace-ee, Stace-ee..."  I could have done without that.  Maybe a regulation-length rope might have helped me? 

(Family/friends:  You can see this on the video above.  It's 5 minutes.  Apologies to Nickel Creek. I am gratified that I was able, during keep-a-way, to introduce the kids to the moves of one Barry Sanders.)

I started my Global Futility program years ago, when I was kicked in the face by a soccer ball traveling at 100+ mph.  I still remember the Mexican sun framing the silhouette of the six year-old offender, looking down at me as I lay in the dust. 

I've lost at cricket, to amused little Indian kids, in the slums of Calcutta.  I've lost my boots -- a bet from a chess match -- to a tsunami survivor alongside the Indian ocean in Banda Aceh.  To a little boy named Kanaan, I lost a game of Hide-n-Seek amid the cloisters of St. Thomas Church on the sands along the Bay of Bengal, in Madras.  (They say Thomas is buried there, but I doubt it.)

In all this, of course, I'm very, very thankful that God has allowed me to see these places, and meet these people.   

And I did win once. sort of:  I kicked some Karaoke rear in Singapore.  First/last karaoke experience.  I ruled that place. 

There's a Chinese word for "Karaoke Winner", though.  Roughly translated:  Loser.

Comments

[Fay]

Nice stuff. :)

[Douglas_Coombs]

"There's a Chinese word for "Karaoke Winner", though. Roughly translated: Loser."

At least you are cool! Cooler than I can ever dream of being.

By the way, nice sandals.

"To a little boy named Kanaan, I lost a game of Hide-n-Seek amid the cloisters of St. Thomas Church on the sands along the Bay of Bengal, in Madras. (They say Thomas is buried there, but I doubt it.)"

Why do you doubt it? We know from the Scriptures (e.g., St. John the Baptist, Stephen, etc.) and from the writings of the early church fathers (e.g., Ignatius, Perpetua etc.) that the Jews and Christians of antiquity took great care with the remains of their dead, especially martyrs. I would think it truly remarkable if there was no tradition regarding the mortal remains of an important early Christian (e.g., Mary).

Doug

[Alice the Brit]

The perfect video - laughter and tears combined!

I see you impressed the Brits *SO* much that they wanted to honor you and gave you the elite "royalty watching worthy persons" hotel room - way to go Brant!

I've been IN there, you know "where the Royals are" yeah, behind that iron wall, so neener neener!!

Loved watching you play with the kids (you aren't very good at faking losing though!! well maybe to the kids you are!!)

Top of the Morning to you!
Alice the plain 'non-royal' Brit

[Brant]

Thanks for the props, and sitting through it.

Douglas, there's another age-old tradition: Multiple supposed burial sites for biblical figures. I don't doubt Thomas is buried. It's just -- being skeptical and all -- I don't know that it's on the beach in southeast India.

[Ken]

Thank you for sharing this Brant. I enjoyed seeing your interaction with the kids.
You are Way cool in my book! Take care.
Ken

[Steve_11]

Brant, you've obviously never played soccer, nor attended a match. There is no "holder".
You left one out - you also have lost at flag football to upper middle class anglo-American suburbanite church youth group kids. I recall my then 12 yr-old son coming home and gleefully describing his touchdown celebration dances he did after scoring against your team. Or did you "let" him go Barry Sanders on you?
Thanks for sharing your darling video.

[Seth Ward]

How dare you be more in shape than me. I demand that you stop working out and eating healthy immediately. Can't you see that might affect the self-esteem of others? For shame.

Seriously amazing stuff there man. You achieved the impossible. You caused me to experienced emotion at 3:00 in the afternoon.

It seems like you have a real gift for that stuff brother. I hope you get to do more of it. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

[Shawna]

Thank you for being their voice. Keep it up. Don't let us forget.

[Mark]

Great editing on the Kenya trip video, Brant. Those kids are such a riot, aren't they?

BTW, why didn't you post any of the terrific footage I shot of the ground?

[Douglas_Coombs]

I should clarify that I personally doubt that St. Thomas is buried in India, though there is good evidence that he did preach and die there (ancient syriac liturgy in some areas, stories of his martyrdom in India from multiple sources around the ancient known world, etc.).

I have heard numerous evangelicals scoff at the idea of known burial places for one of the apostles/saints, and it irks me when the only evidence they posit is general skepticism since they are ignorant of the historical facts regarding the particular situation.

Anyway, I realize you had simply made a side comment and probably have better reasons that simple skepticism. I just thought I should clarify, since, as stated earlier, I don't think that St. Thomas' relics are still in India.

Doug

[Brant]

I'm not your typical snide protestant. I'm not really protesting anything, for one. I'm just snide.

Actually, I meant the "I doubt it" as double-edged irony. (Get it? Thomas? Doubt?) It's stupid, but I do that stuff to keep myself awake.

I don't know where he's buried, specifically, but I'm sure that he is buried, specifically, somewhere.