Back before DVR and on-demand television, there were a few things we never missed. Gunsmoke was one, along with The Lawrence Welk Show, and, of course, Billy Graham Crusades. Even if they came on the same time as The Partridge Family or The Brady Bunch, much to my chagrin. Daddy got his way when it came to the television. We saw Billy preaching in New York, London, Los Angeles - all from the naugahyde comfort of our mid-century-not-yet-modern family room. So, when Daddy learned that Billy Graham was holding a crusade in Knoxville, Tennessee, we dressed up in our Sunday clothes, even though it was a Thursday, and drove the almost 200 miles north to hear him. It was May, 28, 1970. I was ten-years-old.
Billy had a practice of inviting dignitaries to sit on the platform with him - local and national leaders, sports figures, musicians, and yes, politicians. The musical guests that night were Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers and Ethel Waters. And on that night, joining him on the stage, was President Richard Nixon. I had no idea the controversy that was swirling around Neyland Stadium on the UT campus. I remember Daddy telling Mama to stay right by him and telling me to hold on to her hand in the parking lot. I was mainly paying attention to my pinchy Sunday shoes. We had to walk a long way and climb up in the stands to find a seat. We were around the 40 yard-line about halfway up looking toward the left side of the stage. The stadium was full and there were hundreds of people gathered outside as well. I remember a mixture of cheers, and chants and boos as Nixon stepped up to the platform - protests concentrated in the bleachers at the opposite end of the stadium - to our left. I know at one point the crowd around me rose and sang a hymn very loudly to counter the yelling. I don't recall what Johnny or any of them sang or what Nixon said. I don't even remember exactly what Billy said but I can sometimes hear the echo of that distinctive voice in my head. What I can remember in crystal clarity is Ethel Waters. She stood at the podium and pointed toward the end of the stadium where the noise continued. It went something like this: "You children out there, you hush up and listen to Ethel... If I was close enough I would smack you up side the head and then I would hug you and tell you I love you... now hush up, babies, and listen to Ethel." And they did - we did - all us children did. She started to sing and peace, though uneasy and temporary, descended. This is what we heard.
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.
Poem: Civilla Martin - Music: Charles Gabriel
Ethel sang with a deep voice and a deep understanding of troubled-times. She was born to a 15-year-old girl who had been raped. Throughout her life she endured abuse and neglect interspersed with acclaim and adoration. She experienced both the heights of success and the depths of failure. During a low point in 1957, she attended a Billy Graham crusade at Madison Square Garden. She says of that night, "I, Ethel Waters, a 380-pound decrepit old lady, rededicated my life to Jesus Christ, and boy, because He lives, just look at me now. I tell you because He lives; and because my precious child, Billy [Graham], gave me the opportunity to stand there, I can thank God for the chance to tell you His eye is on all of us sparrows."
Ethel is long gone. But the song remains and there just may be a sparrow or two that needs to hear how much they are worth. Matthew 10:29-31: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
My Daddy is also dead. But the lessons I learned from him live on... people need the Lord, he would say. And he did everything he could to make sure they got an introduction. He also taught me that God's love does not belong to a particular denomination or political affiliation. Back in 1970, back when Daddy loaded us up and drove us the three hours to Knoxville to see Billy Graham and President Nixon... Daddy was a Democrat. But he would stand with anyone who acknowledged the power of Jesus Christ to change lives, whether he agreed with their politics or not. Daddy used to say that the Christian army is the only army in the world that regularly shoots at its own soldiers. Politically incorrect metaphor aside, it's the truth. And this Christians-taking-a-stand-against-one-another has got to stop. I don't know how, but there has to be enough grace to go around. We can't afford to be stingy with it. Sparrows are falling all around us and we're fighting amongst ourselves. We have got to do better.
Billy's dead, too. And his boy, Franklin, has taken up the mantle. Let's be honest, it's not the same. But, again, being honest, Billy left some mighty big shoes to fill. Instead of trying to fill the shoes, Franklin has taken to filling up the shoe boxes. That is downright poetic. Franklin is coming to our town today. And we're going to see him. Because we may not agree on everything he says or does, but we do agree that Jesus still has his eye on all us sparrows and Jesus is still in the business of changing lives. And, because He lives, we owe it to Billy and Ethel and Daddy to spread the word. Selah.
Epilogue: I heard Billy Graham in person twice after that night in Knoxville. Two years later in 1972, he came to Birmingham, Alabama. Daddy trained to be a counselor and Mama and I sang in the choir. On the stage that time was a quarterback named Joe, and two coaches... one named Tom from Dallas and one we called Bear. The second time was here in Wilmington - 1995. He had semi-retired but came for one night of an early Franklin Graham Festival. We took our boys. Justin was 7-years-old. He wrote about it in his journal the next day. It only takes a spark....
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