Billy Graham's Suit

Admin Sun 25 Mar 2012, 8:25 pm

. Billy Graham's Suit

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 shared
the following with them:

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.'"