Billy Graham and Oprah

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Billy Graham and Oprah



Last year I watched Billy Graham being interviewed by

Oprah Winfrey on television. Oprah told him that in

her childhood home, she use to watch him preach on a

little black and white TV while sitting on a linoleum

floor.



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, nor 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!



Please pass this one on . .



"The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything."