The finest moments, for me and maybe for her, in Audrey Hepburn’s life were when she was working as a special envoy for the UN having been a child in need of help herself after the second world war. I thought about this today thinking about the Olympics and wondering why I have little interest in it. I know its is because if these sports people could do what they do first off with no training it would be impressive, but because they train so hard this becomes what they are.
In a species that has a body and a mind, and the mind rules all discussion, lauding things of the body become utterly second-rate. I know there is no sporting achievement without strength of will, but really with the problems facing the world am I to clap at a human being being sponsored to bend more than me, run faster than me or swim better than me?
I will applaud them when they take their fame and use it as Hepburn did, to bring peace, bring sustenance, bring awareness to suffering. These things take no training, take far more strength of will and a courage not found on any sports’ field or in any sporting event.