In January, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, now age 92, to a luncheon in his honor. He 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 many wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the podium, 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. Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there. He looked in his briefcase, then the seat beside him. No ticket. The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are, and I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’ Einstein nodded appreciatively, and the conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. About to leave the car, he turned 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, I know who you are. 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.’ ”
Dr. Graham continued, “See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My family told me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age, so I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’ve died, I don’t want you to just 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.”
This anecdote was sent to me by a classmate and friend who is also a Lutheran pastor. Although retired from ministry, she’s still ministering to others through her “Prayer Partners” online communications. She often includes words from John 14: ” Jesus said, . . . “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers