a meditation upon church and state
He's prayed with all the presidents of the U.S.A. going back to Ike.
He liked Ike so well I guess he just kept praying. Wonder what he said to JFK. Did he teach him how to pray?
Then LBJ and Nixon. Goddamn the Vietcong.
Gerald Ford probably fell asleep during the prayer.
Jimmy Carter outprayed Billy. Or at least broke even. Jimmy and Billy knew the score. They sized each other up pretty good--the way only evangelicals can do.
Ronald Reagan knew the value of Billy. He played him like a Ouija board. George H.W. Bush tried to do what Reagan did, but couldn't give up the Episcopal liturgy.
Billy Clinton let Billy Graham pray and pray and pray. Then he let him pray some more. He had to take a phone call--and Billy was still praying.
George W. really believed in Billy. He confused Billy with Jesus Christ himself. Everybody knows Jesus spoke with a southern accent (that lilting accent of Western North Carolina--a Scotch Irish lilt).
But Obama will only get a prayer from afar. Billy has stopped praying with the presidents.
Either God is very close or He is very far. But it probably doesn't matter at what distance you pray.
Billy Graham is old now. He has lived a long life, prayed with millions in soccer stadiums, prayed with U.S. Presidents. They say his mind is still good though his body's failing.
I wonder if he remembers praying with all those presidents.
And if he isn't praying with and for
the presidents anymore,
I wonder what he's praying for.