Testing times for a former Olympian got me thinking about men and spirituality this week.

It seems Jonathan Edwards - acknowledged as the world’s greatest ever triple jumper - has had a ‘crisis of faith’, leading to him to quit as a presenter of BBC’s Songs of Praise programme, because he is no longer convinced of God’s existence.

In the same week, with Robbie Williams checked into a Californian rehab unit, on his 33rd birthday, on account of his alleged addiction to prescription drugs and the leader of Her Majesty’s opposition under the media microscope over alleged drug use years ago – I’ve been pondering what used to be called “moral fibre”, male role models and where men, in particular, might look in times of personal trouble and turmoil.

With these “weaknesses” revealed, what’s of most interest to me, is not that these men are having a crisis - that’s understandable; it happens. But given this public airing of doubt and vulnerability, the question I have, is: where do they turn? Because who - among men - IS leading the way, with strength, courage and wisdom, leaving an example worth following in their wake?

Looking at key figures in society, one could seek help and vision from the prime minister, but most probably wouldn’t take it right now - he’s about as role-modelable to young men as Bernard Matthews is to a would-be vegan.

And what about royalty? Surely, once long ago, the first place one might look for leadership. Well, with a female monarch at the helm for over fifty years, holding sway over her often-ridiculed eldest son, young men may not get much help there either.

So it’s to the boardroom, sports field and entertainment screens and stages that we must look. And I can’t say I’m impressed. Are you?

In those environments, once the somewhat shallow markers of extreme wealth, winning streaks and fame have been removed, I can’t think of anyone that remarkable. Is it me? Or are men lost right now?

I’d say that in their worship of material gain, competitive thrust and celebrity status, modern men have turned their backs and ultimately lost contact with the noble, spiritual qualities that are so desperately needed in our society.

What with women tending to do better in the work environment (when allowed) - queens, as they are, of multi-tasking and taking a motherly overview of things rather than being supremely task-focussed and single-minded as men often are, it’s time men looked deep within instead of going without.

Isn’t it time for a return to gentlemanly standards of conduct? To courage, honour and service – rather than the selfish, self-serving behaviour that seems to have possessed the male of the species at every level of our world from street-level “chav” to finance-world fat-cat?

Looking beyond material madness, religious dogma and social mores – as it seems Messrs Williams, Edwards and Cameron have been invited to do – men could learn a great deal from the great men of mythology including the enlightened Buddha, the inscrutable Samurai and noble Knights of the Round Table – all men with a spiritual awareness that still holds an attraction.

With no great male role models coming to mind in our own times, perhaps it’s time we looked into history if we are to create a masculine future we can be proud of.