Gò0dNews for Men
TV Westerns And Unconditional Love
I
by Jack Borders
have always loved TV Westerns, starting
helper, Tobeel. Dillon gives his pistol to Tobeel and
with “The Lone Ranger,” “Have Gun—Will
instructs him to get in position by the back window
Travel,” “The Rifleman,” “Bonanza,” and my
with Butler in his sights.
favorite, “Gunsmoke.” These TV classics always seem to leave you
Dillon then announces he is entering the cabin unarmed and orders Butler to release Doc and
with a life lesson, something to think about. On
surrender. He points out to Butler that Tobeel has
“Gunsmoke,” the keeper of the peace is U.S.
the drop on him through the open window with
Marshal Matt Dillon. Along with Dillon, there are
instructions to shoot Butler if he fires his weapon.
Miss Kitty and Doc Adams, Chester Goode, and later, the lovable Festus Hagen. Who could forget the constant bickering between Doc and Chester? Then there was the friendly feuding between Doc and Festus. In spite of the insults hurled, you knew they were truly good friends and mutually respected each other. In one particular episode, Doc Adams is held hostage in a cabin by a fleeing outlaw named Butler. Butler is armed with a single-shot shotgun as Marshal Dillon approaches the cabin with his
Butler is confused by the thought of an unarmed man risking his life to save another. Out of desperation, he then points his shotgun at Doc and threatens to kill him. “Go ahead!” Doc demands. “But Matt can rush you before you have a chance to reload.” The bewildered Butler insists that Doc and Marshal Dillon must both be crazy, each willing to give his life to save the other. Doc explains, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Now at his wits’ end, Butler realizes that Dillon knew he might die when he walked through the door. “Nobody would have come through that door for me,” Butler said as he handed Dillon his shotgun and surrendered peacefully. This heartwarming episode reminds us of the importance of friendship and the willingness
12 // June 2021
About The Author
to sacrifice for another.
Jack Borders is a Christ follower, husband, father, grandfather, and caregiver living in Cleveland, Tennessee.