She went on to the
tell viewers that, in his lifetime, Billy has preached to twenty-million people
around the world, not to mention the countless numbers who have heard him
whenever his crusades are broadcast. When she asked if he got nervous before
facing a crowd, Billy replied humbly, "No, I don't get nervous before
crowds, but I did today before I was going to meet with you."
Oprah's show is
broadcast to twenty-million people every day. She is comfortable with famous
stars and celebrities but seemed in awe of Dr. Billy Graham.
When the interview
ended, she told the audience, "You don't often see this on my show, but
we're going to pray." Then she asked Billy to close in prayer. The camera
panned the studio audience as they bowed their heads and closed their eyes just
like in one of his crusades.
Oprah sang the
first line from the song that is his hallmark "Just as I am, without a
plea," misreading the line and singing off'-key, but her voice was full of
emotion and almost cracked.
When Billy stood
up after the show, instead of hugging her guest, Oprah's usual custom, she went
over and just nestled against him. Billy wrapped his arm around her and pulled
her under his shoulder. She stood in his fatherly embrace with a look of sheer
contentment.
I once read the
book "Nestle, Don't Wrestle" by Corrie Ten Boom. The power of
nestling was evident on the TV screen that day. Billy Graham was not the least
bit condemning, distant, or hesitant to embrace a public personality who may
not fit the evangelistic mold. His grace and courage are sometimes stunning.
In an interview
with Hugh Downs, on the 20/20 program, the subject turned to homosexuality.
Hugh looked directly at Billy and said, "If you had a homosexual child,
would you love him?" Billy didn't miss a beat. He replied with sincerity
and gentleness, "Why, I would love that one even more."
The title of
Billy's autobiography, "Just As I Am," says it all. His life goes
before him speaking as eloquently as that charming southern drawl for which he
is known.
If, when I am
eighty years old, my autobiography were to be titled "Just As I Am,"
I wonder how I would live now? Do I have the courage to be me? I'll never be a
Billy Graham, the elegant man who draws people to the Lord through a simple
one-point message, but I hope to be a person who is real and compassionate and
who might draw people to nestle within God's embrace.
Do you make it a
point to speak to a visitor or person who shows up alone at church, buy a
hamburger for a homeless man, call your mother on Sunday afternoons, pick
daisies with a little girl, or take a fatherless boy to a baseball game?
Did anyone ever
tell you how beautiful you look when you're looking for what's beautiful in
someone else?
Billy complimented
Oprah when asked what he was most thankful for; he said, "Salvation given
to us in Jesus Christ" then added, "and the way you have made people
all over this country aware of the power of being grateful."
When asked his
secret of love, being married fifty-four years to the same person, he said,
"Ruth and I are happily incompatible."
How unexpected. We
would all live more comfortably with everybody around us if we would find the
strength in being grateful and happily incompatible.
Let's take the
things that set us apart, that make us different, that cause us to disagree,
and make them an occasion to compliment each other and be thankful for each
other. Let us be big enough to be smaller than our neighbor, spouse, friends,
and strangers.
Every day, may we
"Nestle, not Wrestle!"
-- Author Unknown
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