Last weekend, I had a life-changing experience when I went to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina with my parents.
To be honest, when my family first moved to North Carolina a few years ago and we drove down Billy Graham Parkway, I asked my parents if he was a president. I’m not proud of that moment, but I’ve come a long way since then. Going to the library with no expectations turned out to be far more meaningful than I ever imagined. Billy Graham truly was a once-in-a-lifetime man.
As we drove into the parking lot, I was delighted to see the butterflies flying around the flowers. Walking the path, I passed through a barn with a massive glass cross. The library itself sits on Billy Graham’s childhood dairy farm. At the entrance, a kind woman at the front desk asked if we had ever been there before. We told her it was our first time, and my mom explained that she just woke up with a feeling that we should come. The woman smiled and said, “Well, you must have come for a reason today.” Those words gave me chills because I knew an adventure awaited.
Inside the museum, I found myself thinking of Ryan Holiday’s book Ego Is the Enemy. It’s one of my favorite books because it shows how ego can either destroy us or, when kept in check, lead us toward meaningful success. Holiday shares stories of leaders like General George Sherman, whose humility grounded him, and athletes such as Lance Armstrong, whose unchecked ego led to his downfall. As I walked through the exhibits, I couldn’t help but think about how Billy Graham embodied the qualities Holiday praised which is humility, diligence, self-awareness, hard work, and staying grounded in purpose.
I was astonished to learn how many world leaders and presidents Billy Graham met with. After 9/11, it was Graham who spoke words of comfort and hope to a grieving nation. In another room, a globe displayed clips from his sermons, and one in particular struck me “God has brought each of us here for a purpose.”
Looking at photos of Graham with leaders like Barack Obama, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth, and so many more, I thought of Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. Franklin, who was self-taught and lacked formal education, once marveled at how his pursuit of purpose eventually placed him before kings. Billy Graham, too, stood unwavering in his calling and it led him to stand before presidents and world leaders.
But that path isn’t easy. Pursuing your purpose often means going against the grain, being misunderstood, and facing criticism. You have to fight through distractions and trust your calling. Some people listen to that inner voice, and others silence it.
One line that stayed with me came from someone describing Billy Graham “It was about the message, not the man.” Even after all he accomplished, Graham would say “As a servant of Jesus Christ, I must say again how unworthy I felt to minister to the people of these lands. I was reaping where I did not sow, and it was a humbling experience. Any honor or credit for what has happened through this ministry belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ whom I serve.”
That humility defined him. He saw himself as a vessel serving and inspiring millions. One photo that stood out showed him preaching in Romania. People crowded rooftops and apartment windows just to hear his words broadcast through a loudspeaker.
This experience touched me deeply because it mirrors the questions I ask myself on my own journey and discovering and clarifying my purpose, making sense of my experiences, and finding ways to serve others. Graham saw everyone as a child of God. He understood that world leaders needed spiritual guidance just as much as everyone else in the world did. He recognized that we are all human, all in need of love and direction. It amazes me that a young man from North Carolina dreamed of spreading God’s word across the world and that is exactly what he did.
If you ever get the chance to visit the Billy Graham Library, I highly recommend it. You will walk away inspired, humbled, and filled with love.
