TV Westerns And Unconditional Love

by Jack Borders

Ihave always loved TV Westerns, starting with “The Lone Ranger,” “Have Gun—Will Travel,” “The Rifleman,” “Bonanza,” and my favorite, “Gunsmoke.”

These TV classics always seem to leave you with a life lesson, something to think about. On “Gunsmoke,” the keeper of the peace is U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon. Along with Dillon, there are 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 helper, Tobeel. Dillon gives his pistol to Tobeel and instructs him to get in position by the back window with Butler in his sights.

Dillon then announces he is entering the cabin unarmed and orders Butler to release Doc and surrender. He points out to Butler that Tobeel has the drop on him through the open window with instructions to shoot Butler if he fires his weapon.

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.

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 to sacrifice for another.

The Author Jack Borders is a Christ follower, husband, father, grandfather, and caregiver living in Cleveland, Tennessee.