People are fascinated with measuring the extremes in our world. So it may seem mind-blowing to see the world’s tallest man and the world’s shortest man together. More than six-and-a-half feet looms between them.
The two men met for the first time in London. Chandra Bahadur Dangi is from Nepal. The 75-year-old cloth weaver is 21 ½ inches tall—less than two feet. Before being discovered by Guinness World Records, only his family and some neighbors in his village knew him. Now, fame offers him opportunities to see the world—and to meet other record-holders, like Sultan Kösen of Turkey.
At 8 feet 3 inches, Mr. Kösen towers over Mr. Dangi. The 31-year-old, part-time farmer had a growth spurt at age 10 that didn’t stop—even into his late 20s. A tumor on his pituitary gland made him produce more growth hormone than normal. Finally, surgery to remove the tumor stopped his growth.
The men traveled to London to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Guinness World Records. More than 600,000 hopefuls gathered for the event—each wanting to be named a world-record holder for some superlative feature or undertaking.
While the tall, young Mr. Kösen and the short, elderly Mr. Dangi may seem like opposites, the two see eye-to-eye on some things. Both say they have struggled in life due to their size. But both say they have learned to be content in their circumstances. They agree that their desires are simple.
Mr. Dangi is thankful for his brothers who have always accepted him and for the support he has more recently received from the new people he meets when he travels. When Mr. Kösen was named the World’s Tallest Man in 2009, he said that he desired some clothes that fit and to be married one day. Both of those things have been met for him.
No matter a person’s height or looks, no matter our strengths or weaknesses, God created us all as unique individuals. But He put into us a common desire for purpose and community—with Him and with others.
