I’m sure we are all familiar with the expression, “How are the mighty fallen” and I’m also sure that we can give examples of politicians, sport stars, bankers and the rich falling from power and in some cases finishing up in prison. It is refreshing to come across an example of a “come down” that is worthy of praise in our troublesome world.

Some years ago, the then Cardinal and Archbishop of Montreal came to the end of his long and distinguished career ministering to his flock and he reached retirement age. He cast aside his rich robes and honours, said his goodbyes to his priests, left his Cathedral for the last time and stepped into retirement. But this would not mean spending his time on the golf course as expected; instead he volunteered to work in Africa as a simple missionary. During an interview by a local newspaper he declared, “I see no reason why being a Cardinal should prevent me from doing some good in the world. I feel that the time has come for me to practice what I have been preaching all these years.”
A truly remarkable man, who displayed real Christian values.

I am not a great fan of Americans since the time they claimed to have won the Second World War for us, even though we all know that they would never have entered the war in the first place if Japan had not bombed Pearl Harbour. But I must concede that another remarkable man that comes to mind is the American Evangelist Billy Graham. I remember when I was a lad, going to a church hall in my native Hartlepool, before the days of large screen televisions and listening to a broadcast of a rally he was holding in London. Later, when he was being interviewed by the B.B.C. radio he was asked, “You must be quite sure that you’re going to heaven aren’t you?” To which he replied, “Yes, I’m going to heaven, but not for my good works, or because I preach the Gospel, but because of what Christ did for me, when he died on the cross.”
Like the Cardinal, he was also a humble man, showing great faith.