Just As I Am ....
a Billy Graham story
Billy Graham is now 86 years old with
Parkinson's disease.
(Read and feed your soul)


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 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.