When We Lose Great Men

     A year before Billy Graham’s passing, which occurred on February twenty-first this year, I was made aware by Christian Television programming that he had achieved his 98^th birthday and was amazed. I realized that he was getting up in years from his wife Ruth’s passing some years back and was hoping that he would make it to his 100^th birthday. So many people think that this is still a rare occurrence. They are incorrect, however. It has come to my attention that many more people, than ever before, are not only achieving their centennial but are living past that iconic age by several more years! While I can’t make any scientific conclusions from my casual research on this subject, it is certain that something is changing in our world that makes aging past the age of 100 possible. Are people living better? Are they maintaining superior health practices or sustenance in their daily lives? Perhaps they are just luckier than people were in the 20^th century. (Before and after World War II the average life expectancy of males who worked regular physical labor jobs was 39!) Heart attacks were the number one cause of decease through the second half of the 20^th century. Stress was blamed for this, eventually but I’m sure the fact that smoking and drinking alcohol which was very prevalent during the second half of that century also played a part.

     The 21^st century has taken a turn for the better for overall health but our stress factor may be worse than ever. Blame it on the times. Billy Graham did and with emphasis in nearly every one of his sermons which always focused primarily on salvation. I think he was wise in staying on subject. Jesus never asked us to do more than what Billy Graham did on almost a daily basis throughout most of his career as an evangelist. He may very well be the most accomplished evangelist the world has ever known aside from Jesus himself. (Billy Graham would’ve wanted me to say it that way!)

     I think it is rather consequential that Billy Graham passed away not much more than a month after I put up an entry on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on my rock pages blog on his national observance day. Something about it seems right and natural. I believe that Mr. King’s dream is coming true and is being realized even while people are on the march and saying things must change. They are right but it must start in our minds first. Go back and listen to his speech which he left ringing in our ears before he was taken from our presence. He knew that he was starting a fire that someone else would have to hold up and speak out and continue to remind us that we must unify because Christ decreed it. These two men were much more alike than they were different. What more needs to be said?

Say it!

The Castle Lady