Billy - 88 years old - has demonstrated a life-long pursuit as an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. He has proven himself an example of grace, compassion, and a desire to share the simple message of the Good News of Jesus. He was honored yesterday. A library was dedicated in his honor. I listened this morning to some of his comments after being honored by former Presidents and friends and family and it was classic Billy.

“The first words out of his mouth: ‘I feel like I’ve been attending my own funeral.’
The crowd laughed. ‘All these speeches,’ Graham said. ‘I know they all meant it, but I feel terribly small and humbled by it all. … My whole life has been to please the Lord and honor Jesus, not to see me.’” as quoted in the Columbus Dispatch

It made me think of one of my favorite songs in reference to Dr. Graham. A song coming from an unlikely source - the often cynical and controversial Swirling Eddies - the song is titled, simply “Billy Graham.”

Billy Graham
from the album “Outdoor Elvis”
Words and Music by Camarillo Eddy
©1989 Broken Songs

i don’t know about those other guys
there’s somethin’ in the back of their eyes
but billy, you’re the man
who don’t use slight of hand
ain’t wearin’ no disguise
i love you, billy

i love the simple things you say
and you never seem to get in the way
no one is quite like you
compassionate and true
“just as i am”, i say
i love you, billy

Through a somewhat haunting melody and sparse accompaniment the words of this song land purely and starkly on the listener’s ears and heart. The line that never ceases to garner my attention is: “you never seem to get in the way.”

Billy from his early days in Youth For Christ till his days as sage and author has always been a window pane through which you could see the love and grace of God. We could learn much if we listened to his life about how to avoid the pitfall of pride and reflecting to much of ourselves, eclipsing God when we stand up to speak as messangers of the Gospel. May our lives, like Billy Graham, open a window to the love and truth of God rather than becoming mirrors that merely reflect more of us.