This month, as one of the most influential evangelists in history has passed, his legacy and his life leave us with much to learn. The late Reverend Billy Graham was endearingly described by his son Reverend Franklin Graham at the funeral procession as being, "FAT".
Faithful. Available. Teachable.
These three descriptions say so much about a person's character. Whatever context we chose to give flesh to these qualities, I believe they are nonetheless extraordinary and yet simple to embody.
Faithful.
To be faithful is to have conviction. But it doesn't stop there. To be faithful to an idea, to a mission, to a person, takes a second step. Commitment. Have the base conviction and then commit to it. It is impossible to ask of any person, that they be unwavering, unshakable, or unquestioning. It is the nature of humanity to be cautious and curious. But we can make one simple adjustment that makes all the difference. Have faith. Raise up a conviction about the world. About life. About your sacred relationship with an idea or a person. And then commit to it. Stand by it. Defend it. Fight for it. Live by it. Try to go beyond the whims of weakness and exercise solidarity. Exercise exclusivity. Exercise faith.
Available.
The fault of many a father and mother. In fact, the fault of many greater and lesser persons than the one you're thinking of. To be available is to become the master of your time. To prioritize. To understand and decide how you spend your time. You can make yourself available to your family, to your kids, your wife, your job, your community, your hobbies, to strangers in need, to a specific purpose, or to God, whatever you may conceive that to be. But to be available, like being faithful, is a choice. It is a conscious decision about the way you will live your life. Too many people make themselves available to their job but not their family. Or to their hobbies but not to their job. To their family but not their community. To themselves but not others. Life is a balancing act. The available man or woman is available to their priorities. They are available to love, to be loved, to act, to watch, to speak, to listen, to learn, and to teach. But the most important thing of all is to live intentionally. If you can do your best at this balancing act with intention, you have made yourself available.
Teachable.
To be teachable is not difficult. But it is unique and powerful. It requires two things of you: that you have curiosity and an open mind. Because to be taught is simply to learn. But first you must have a curiosity to allow yourself to be taught, and you must have an open mind to allow yourself to learn.
Leading a life centered around learning is at the cornerstone of being a human. Because to be human is to progress. To grow. And we cannot do this without learning. But we have to be teachable to learn. If we do not possess this base characteristic, progress can never come to us or to our world. I believe that if we are to solve our problems, create prosperous futures, improve lives, better ourselves, and create meaningful relationships then we must be teachable. Because the world possesses a wealth of knowledge and minds are like parachutes, they function best when open.
The words I've italicized add breadth to these ideas of being Faithful, Available and Teachable. They exemplify what we can learn about a man who raised up others. Showed compassion. Lived life with a mission. Taught, learned, and helped.
Conviction. Commitment. Prioritize. Understand. Decide. Curiosity. Open Mind.
Live life intentionally. Walk through this life with conviction and an open mind. See things that are bigger than yourself. Make sacrifices to achieve balance. Commit to people. To times. To ideas. Stand firmly. Shake. Waiver. Question. But decide. And live, feet forward, head up, and eyes open.
Thank you Reverend Billy Graham for a wonderful life and the lessons you've passed onto us.
Faithful. Available. Teachable.
These three descriptions say so much about a person's character. Whatever context we chose to give flesh to these qualities, I believe they are nonetheless extraordinary and yet simple to embody.
Faithful.
To be faithful is to have conviction. But it doesn't stop there. To be faithful to an idea, to a mission, to a person, takes a second step. Commitment. Have the base conviction and then commit to it. It is impossible to ask of any person, that they be unwavering, unshakable, or unquestioning. It is the nature of humanity to be cautious and curious. But we can make one simple adjustment that makes all the difference. Have faith. Raise up a conviction about the world. About life. About your sacred relationship with an idea or a person. And then commit to it. Stand by it. Defend it. Fight for it. Live by it. Try to go beyond the whims of weakness and exercise solidarity. Exercise exclusivity. Exercise faith.
Available.
The fault of many a father and mother. In fact, the fault of many greater and lesser persons than the one you're thinking of. To be available is to become the master of your time. To prioritize. To understand and decide how you spend your time. You can make yourself available to your family, to your kids, your wife, your job, your community, your hobbies, to strangers in need, to a specific purpose, or to God, whatever you may conceive that to be. But to be available, like being faithful, is a choice. It is a conscious decision about the way you will live your life. Too many people make themselves available to their job but not their family. Or to their hobbies but not to their job. To their family but not their community. To themselves but not others. Life is a balancing act. The available man or woman is available to their priorities. They are available to love, to be loved, to act, to watch, to speak, to listen, to learn, and to teach. But the most important thing of all is to live intentionally. If you can do your best at this balancing act with intention, you have made yourself available.
Teachable.
To be teachable is not difficult. But it is unique and powerful. It requires two things of you: that you have curiosity and an open mind. Because to be taught is simply to learn. But first you must have a curiosity to allow yourself to be taught, and you must have an open mind to allow yourself to learn.
Leading a life centered around learning is at the cornerstone of being a human. Because to be human is to progress. To grow. And we cannot do this without learning. But we have to be teachable to learn. If we do not possess this base characteristic, progress can never come to us or to our world. I believe that if we are to solve our problems, create prosperous futures, improve lives, better ourselves, and create meaningful relationships then we must be teachable. Because the world possesses a wealth of knowledge and minds are like parachutes, they function best when open.
The words I've italicized add breadth to these ideas of being Faithful, Available and Teachable. They exemplify what we can learn about a man who raised up others. Showed compassion. Lived life with a mission. Taught, learned, and helped.
Conviction. Commitment. Prioritize. Understand. Decide. Curiosity. Open Mind.
Live life intentionally. Walk through this life with conviction and an open mind. See things that are bigger than yourself. Make sacrifices to achieve balance. Commit to people. To times. To ideas. Stand firmly. Shake. Waiver. Question. But decide. And live, feet forward, head up, and eyes open.
Thank you Reverend Billy Graham for a wonderful life and the lessons you've passed onto us.
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