[StBernard] Billy Graham's Suit

[Westley Annis]

Billy Graham is now 90 years old with Parkinson's disease.  In January 2000,
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 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.'


"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."