How to be a good loser?

One doesn’t have to be a rabid Tory supporter to feel sorry for the Majors: not only does Mr. Major lose but then, punch-drunk from lack of sleep, he finds himself evicted from his house, family bundles carted off down the road just like that. so to speak. Of course behind the scenes things are probably quite different and no doubt the Civil Service have got it down to a fine art, but it is still a cruel moment when an outgoing PM has to leave No.10 with dignity. Do you remember them battling with Mr. Heath's grand piano?

The media cannot resist zooming in on these moments. Politicians have not yet, in their moments of victory or defeat, quite descended to the level of footballers who either cling ecstatically to each other in vaguely, how shall we say, unitive postures, or burst into tears and strike the ground, but for them as for us it is very hard to be seen to lose well.

However one reacts to losing, one loses! if one looks downcast people say "can't take it like a man (or woman)". if one looks cheerful, people say "bluffing". if one looks dignified, people say "wonder what he's really thinking".

St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, once said that if the Order were to be abolished, it would take him only 15 minutes to recover his composure. Such was his state of spiritual peace. It was abolished for a while (1773-1814). but by then Ignatius was enjoying heavenly bliss and wasn't around to have his words tested.

Fortunately Christ has provided us with one good way to lose well. It is called the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To use it, we don't have to smile, wave, keep a stiff upper lip, or burst into tears. It allows us, without a lot of publicity and media hype, to say:

"God, I have lost, and you have won." God can then gently pick us up and put us back on a pathway to life - and victory. DS