When Billy Graham was 92 years-old, he was struggling with Parkinson's disease. In January, a month before his 93rd birthday, 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 of his struggles with Parkinson's disease.  But the Charlotte leaders said, 'We don't expect a major address.  Just come and let us honor you.'  So, he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the podium, 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.  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 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."   
May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door.  "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
May each of us have lived our lives so that when our ticket is punched we don't have to worry about where we are going.

By Susan Walsh on Facebook
Blessings for a great summer,
Lisa Beretz, (518) 330-9277

    Here is a prayer I found on the Global Board of disciple’s website for this special holiday.  I thought was worth sharing since we probably all can use it or know someone that could use God’s healing power:
Gracious God. On this date in particular, we give thanks for this country. We thank you for the ideals of freedom and equality and inclusion that this country seeks to have. We pray for our leaders and ask that you guide them in making wise decisions that benefit the whole, not just a few. And we ask that you help us discern the division between country and faith so that all may have the same freedoms we so enjoy.

Here are some suggested ways by which we can be fed by God at a deep level. We each respond to God's love in unique ways, so you may find some of these suggestions more helpful than others.

1. It is vitally important to be aware of, and to honor our feelings, and to let God's love enfold us as we feel them: whether anxiety, anger, grieving, loneliness. Jesus felt all these things and trusted God enough to share them.

2. It is deeply healing also to share what we feel with a trusted friend or small group, especially those who know how to pray with us and for us, who know how to listen without interruption and instant spiritual prescriptions.

3. It is both healing and strengthening when in the midst of conflict and anxiety producing situations to pay attention to our breathing, and to notice where our bodies feel especially stressed, tight, uncomfortable. It helps then to think of the living Christ beside us, enfolding us in God's healing light (or some other image or thought) especially around the tight, stressed bodily areas. Then let the breathing become slow, deep, and gentle.

4. In the midst of painful or intense encounters with others, whether in person, over the telephone, by letter or e-mail, we can think of Christ's light enfolding the other person as well as ourselves; sheltering, guiding, and renewing both of us, so that neither is drained or absorbs the toxicity. The same can be done in difficult committee sessions. The Bible is full of helpful images of God's sheltering love: God's hands, arms, enfolding wings, strong rocks, high mountains, healing rivers and pools of living water, green fields, empowering light. For some of us, an inwardly spoken word is more helpful: release, peace, love, Risen Christ, Healing Spirit, and so on.

5. Each day let us encourage one another to take some intentional time, even if for only a few minutes, just to rest in God's closeness, without any intense agenda. This fills our inner reservoirs of body and spirit. Some prefer to sit or lie down in silence, or hearing special music. Some prefer to walk and notice what God wants to show them. Some like to dance, stretch, paint, garden. Others may wish to hold a special picture that reminds them of God's love, or a special cloth, a flower, a rock, or some other object. The important thing is just to soak in God's healing nearness without agendas. This can be done either in various moments throughout the day, or at a special time, whatever works best for us.

6. Before an appointment, committee meeting, a personal encounter, or a challenging piece of work, we can think of Jesus' promise to go ahead of us to prepare the place for us (John 14:3). We can picture or just think of the Healer already in that future place, office, room, filling that space with empowering, healing, guiding light: the doorway, windows, chairs, desk, etc. When we and others arrive at that future place and experience, we will feel the warmth and strength welcoming us.

7. At the end of a full, demanding day, as we prepare for sleep, it is deeply cleansing and releasing to take a few slow, deep, gentle breaths, and then to release the events and the persons we met during the day into God's hands or into God's heart.
 
Blessings for a Happy Independence Day and a great summer.
Lisa Beretz, (518) 330-9277