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.'
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