[Thanks, Cynthia, for the forward and it bears repeating]
Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson’s disease. Leaders in
Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a
luncheon in his honor.
Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with
Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, ‘We don’t expect a
major address. Just come and let us honor you.’ So he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the
rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, ‘I’m reminded today of Albert
Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time
magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from
Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the
tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in
his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser
pockets. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find
it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.
The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you
are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle
punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around
and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his
seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t
worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure
you bought one.’
Einstein looked at him and said, ‘Young man, I too, know who I am. What I
don’t know is where I’m going.”
Having said that Billy Graham continued, ‘See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a
brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me
I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more
fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one
more occasion.
You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried.
But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the
suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this:
I not only know who I am . . I also know where I’m going.’
~~
Dr Bob Griffin, www.grif.net
“Jesus knows me, this I love”