Well, Ebbie, Billy Graham's wife, Ruth Bell Graham, died in 2007. She was 87 years old, and I understand she was quite a remarkable woman. Billy Graham was born in 1918 and is still alive. I think many would agree that he also is a remarkable person, able to bridge many chasms.

Now, Billy and Ruth's five children are another matter. Best-known and most notorious is son Franklin, who is more-or-less considered to be the heir of Billy's evangelistic empire. Franklin Graham seems to be best-known for his Islamophobia. I believe he's been somewhat of a disappointment as an evangelist, and he was banned from the National Day of Prayer this year and had to lead a dissident group in a parking lot.

Newly-ordained minister Ruth Graham is the third of the five Graham children. She is married to a former minister who was recently convicted of possession of child pornography (click), which no doubt was a source of consternation for her. If you are so inclined, you can visit her Website, http://www.ruthgrahamandfriends.org/. There's an interesting 2008 article about Ruth Graham here (click). Sounds like she's had a pretty tough life, despite the fact that her parents seem to have been good parents and exemplary people.

And yes, indeed, she did give the invocation at a NASCAR race. I didn't find the invocation itself, but I can believe Ebbie's assessment that it was dumb. After all, what can you say when you're asked to do the invocation for a sporting event? Many people seem to think it's really important that we bring God into our sporting events, but I have it on Good Authority that God doesn't give a damn about sports:

There are jocks who think that God himself
Is drooling in the bleachers
In a cold November downpour
With a bellyful of brew
Whose entire grasp of heaven
Has a lot to do with football NASCAR
It's from them I would expect to hear
The F-word, not from you

God is, however, concerned about homelessness and bigotry and Islamophobia and ecological disasters. No time for sporting events, however - God leaves that to newly-ordained preachers like Ruth Graham.

I hope that some day, Ruth and her siblings will inherit some of their father's tolerance and wisdom and generosity.

-Joe-