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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