In the wake of the drama, back-stabbing and manipulation of the elections reminiscent of a South African soap opera, I was so disgusted with human kind, that I hoped that Jacob Zuma was correct in his prediction of the second coming.
But then I was lucky enough to be exposed to events that caused me to make a 180 degree turn. Two days in a row I witnessed such beauty and excellence produced by members of the human race, that I forget all about politics (it should be a four letter word) and the filth it elicits from otherwise decent people.
On Sunday, at the closing concert of the Klein Karoo Klassique in Oudtshoorn, a young clarinet player moved audience members to tears with his rendition of one of Mozart's compositions for clarinet.
The handsome 25-year-old Junnan Sun's absolute joy in the music, his masterful control of his instrument and his interpretation of a variety of works with soul and humour, fill the listener with elation and revive one's belief in mankind.
Great music makes you feel emotions that very seldom come to the fore in day-to-day life.
Then, the very next day on Monday, South Africa woke up to the news that Wayde van Niekerk had smashed Michael Johnson's 400m record in Rio. What a brilliant performance by another beautiful young man! To steal a phrase from beauty queens: "Inside and out." And what a surprisingly stunning coach - the best Women's Month present anyone could have asked for!
Ansa Botha, a Freestate boeretannie (74) was lauded by Wayde for taking him to Olympic heights at the age of 24 - his coach's junior by half a century.
And then, after winning gold in the 100m, Usain Bolt sprints into the grandstand to where Wayde is sitting and congratulates our golden boy with a warm brotherly hug. What wonder to behold! What a way to start a week!
On my way to work I bought a bottle of champagne to share a celebratory glass with colleagues to drink to life and the incredible feats the human race can achieve.
We have many reasons to feel down, and depression is indeed becoming an international pandemic, but people who pursue excellence and share their beauty with the world make life worth living. What would life be without artistic expression and sport?
It is clear as daylight that politics brings out the worst in people and therefore we can be pretty sure that politicians won't solve the world's problems. Maybe it is time we shift our focus and put as much energy into the rollout of recreational activities in our poverty stricken communities.
Not only will it lift people's spirits, but a love of sport, music and art also brings people together and provides great inspirational promise.
By now everyone has seen Wayde win gold at the Olympics. To see Wayde's musical equivalent, ensure that you book a couple of seats at next year's Klassique. I do hope Junnan Sun will be performing, but the other classical musicians and singers who annually perform at the festival, are all cause for inspiration.
Next year I will buy 20 tickets for people who can't afford to go. How about you?
Game on!
BY: ILSE SCHOONRAAD, GEORGE HERALD EDITOR
