Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson's disease.

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."

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."

From an email received from Paul Christian 1-12-2006

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