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Real Answers™
gh97
Copyright: © 2007 Gary Hardaway
610 words
REQUIEM FOR A GREAT WOMAN
By: Gary Hardaway
About ten years ago two internationally celebrated women, adored by billions, died within a few days of each other. Mother Teresa’s long life of ministering to the cast off women and children of Calcutta came to a natural end. The ministry, however, continues -- a lasting legacy to her unquenchable love for the hopeless and passion for serving God.
Princess Diana, killed in a car wreck around the same time, could probably count more thrill-seeking, idolizing fans. Still stunningly beautiful at thirty-six, fabulously rich, royal by both blood and marriage, the princess epitomized the ultimate fantasy of those who that feast on tabloid glamour and vicarious soap opera.
Mother Teresa. Princess Diana. Could two lives – and deaths – be more unlike one another? The princess hurled into infinity in a screeching mass of twisted metal, with a drunken chauffeur at the wheel. The nun, quietly passing into eternal rest, hoping her Lord might be able to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into your master’s joy.”
I thought of this stark contrast a couple of weeks ago as Ruth Graham lay dying. I even hoped that her passing might conceivably edge out some of Paris Hilton’s face time on cable news. No such luck. As one fed up commentator wryly quipped, “We’ll always have Paris” (Remember Bogart/Bergman 1942).
But chances are we won’t always have Paris. Paris habitually drives drunk. Paris weaves in and out of one stupor after another, lost in meaningless partying and shameless porn. She’s going to look like fifty before she’s thirty, if she makes it to that age. Barring a total shift in character, self-destruction seems almost inevitable.
Remember Anna Nicole Smith, dead at 39. Marilyn Monroe, 36. Janis Joplin, 27. Judy Garland, 47. The law of averages caught up with all. It disregarded talent (or lack thereof), looks, money, sexual prowess, and celebrity rankings. A more elegant expression of this law goes something like this: whatever a person sows, he or she will reap.
Those who knew Ruth Graham absolutely insist that without her Billy Graham would never have become who he became nor sustained his ministry over the past 60+ years. She gave every ounce of her being to him and their five children so that he could concentrate on global outreach.
The many millions who have experienced new life and hope through the Billy Graham’s message owe a large debt to his stalwart life partner. She never faltered in her commitment to serve them so that he could give himself to the spreading the Good News of Christ. She was the one indispensable member of the Billy Graham team.
Whatever God did through Billy, Ruth Graham shares in the “harvest.” Her legacy includes broken persons mended, broken homes reunited, and wandering souls redeemed by “amazing grace.”
Sometimes redundancy is necessary. Ruth Graham, age 87, passed into eternal rest hoping her Lord might be able to say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into your master’s joy.”
Her husband, children, and many Christian friends declare, “She fought the good fight, she finished the race with distinction.” To such faithful folks Mrs. Graham’s Bible says, “you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Meanwhile, one can hope that it’s not too late for Paris Hilton – or anyone else on the downward spiral into an early grave. But reversing years of decadence and dissolution takes far more than a sudden surge of will power. It takes a Higher Power, energizing and transforming mere human resolve.
That’s something Billy Graham – and his beloved Ruth – can tell you all about.
Gary Hardaway is executive director of Summit School of Ministry in Northwest Washington. He holds a Ph. D in foundations of education and is a member of the National Association of Scholars. He has taught in universities in the USA, Lithuania and Canada. He holds a Ph. D. in foundations of education. "Real Answers™" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. To contact the author or The Amy Foundation, write or E-mail to: P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091; amyfoundtn@aol.com
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