Thoughts on the Graham repose

Business had us in south Charlotte today. Our meeting ended early at 11 so we decided to enjoy a little Bucca di Beppo (Italian food). Since we were in the queen city and the Billy Graham repose was in its last day, we decided to visit the Billy Graham Library.

Parking was off of Nation's Ford Road at Samaritan's Purse distribution center. The line was probably 300 people. We were bused over. I had never visited the Library. The atmosphere was  solemn but yet you saw smiles on peoples' faces. The staff at the Billy Graham Library reminded me of Chic-fil-A employees, greeting us and thanking us for visiting. I bet I was thanked 20 times.

Something happened while I was in line that caused me to become uncomfortable. I'm not sure if its my age or the significance of a man who has literally shared the Gospel of Christ to millions. I became a little emotional. I never met Billy Graham, but probably like you, I knew about his celebrity. Celebrity, yet unlike the celebrity that the current generation is use to. Celebrity with humility. Reading the story of his life, and the love of his life made me look at Elizabeth and realize the fact we all know. We're not going to be together forever. One of us will die. That reality probably was part of the emotional serum that caused me to shed a few tears. But then I thought about how they lived a long, loving life and thought about the model they were for their children.

I hope if I live to be 99, my children will look at our marriage and say wow, what a love story. But more importantly, I hope they will say Mom and Dad pointed us to Christ in their  life and marriage.

Billy Graham is gone. He had an impact on a lot of people. I'm glad I was able to participated in some small way the memorial service of a humble servant of God.