Finding the Way Back to Mayberry
Episode # 80, "High Noon in Mayberry"
Introduction:
Luke Comstock, an ex-con, returns to Mayberry to see Andy about shooting
him in the leg during a robbery years ago, which crippled him and sent him to
prison. Barney
is convinced that Comstock is seeking revenge,
so he overreacts a
little.
Barney’s
paranoia then
spreads to Gomer,
Otis, Aunt
Bee, and Opie
. Along
with faith and courage, this episode also looks at repentance and forgiveness.
Lesson
Points/Questions:
Worry or Faith? – Psalm 23:1-6, Matthew 6:27 and 17:20
What
do You Worry About? – problems:
Job 5:19-27, failure: Ps. 145:14, change:
Ps. 102:24-27,
uncertainty:
Pr. 8:22-36 and 29:8, future: Mt.6:25-34, past: Is. 43:25, pain:
Jer. 31:25, death:
Jn.
5:24 and 11:25-26, grief:
Is. 61:3, 2 Co. 1:4-7, crime:
Jn. 3:19-21, separation: Is.
40:11,
lost
chances: Pr. 16:3, any, all,
or none of the above: Php. 4:13 and 4:6-7, 1 Pe. 5:7
How
Can You Trade Worry for Safeguarding? – Psalm 27:1
When
Do You Turn Over Your Worries to God? – 1 Chronicles 22:13
Fear
or Courage? – Joshua 1:7-9, Hebrews 13:6
Can
Fear Be a Good Thing? – 2 Timothy 1:7, Luke 12:4-5, John 10:10
When
Is Fear Bad? – 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, Genesis 3:8-10, Revelation 21:7-8
Does
Being Afraid Mean You Are A Coward? – Philippians 1:20, Proverbs 28:1
Does
Courage Always Seem Courageous? – Hebrews 3:6
Revenge
or Forgiveness? – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Which
Should You Choose? – Isaiah 35:3-4
Do
You Get Mad, Or Get Even? / Do You Forgive, But Never Forget? – Romans
12:17-20
Or
Do You Turn The Other Cheek? – Matthew 5:38-41, 1 John 4:18
Discussion:
1)
Andy was concerned when he read Luke Comstock’s letter, but Barney immediately
chose to believe that Luke had revenge on his mind. Why would Barney jump to that conclusion?
Why did Andy refuse Barney’s advice?
Why did Andy start to load
his revolver, and then put it away instead?
2)
For whom was Otis actually afraid? Were his fears justified?
Was Barney just as scared as Otis? Was
Andy just as scared as Barney? Explain
the difference in their reactions. Why
did Barney, Otis and Andy react in the ways they did?
Discuss differences and similarities in worry, anxiety, fear, panic, and
phobias.
3)
Aunt Bee surely understood that there were dangers involved with Andy’s
occupation, even if it is in Mayberry, but why did she begin to worry this time?
Why did Opie become concerned? How
did Andy answer Opie’s questions about fear?
Was it good for Opie to know his father was ever frightened?
How can you be fearful and courageous at the same time?
4)
If you haven’t already, answer for yourself the questions posed in the Lesson
Points section. Luke Comstock had
made a mistake, and he had to pay a price for it.
Do you think, at that time in his life, that he was fearful or
courageous? What about coming back
to Mayberry? Do you think he ever
felt sorry for himself? Why do you
suppose that Luke didn’t just call Andy and thank him or mail the shotgun to
Andy?
Final
Thoughts:
Opie:
Are you scared, Pa?
Andy:
Well, I am a little nervous.
Opie:
Is this your first time?
Andy: No, I’ve been scared a whole lot of times.
Opie:
Really, Pa?
Gosh, you sure couldn’t tell it.
--------------------
Luke
Comstock:
I had a chance to review my whole life – when I was a boy to where I
was lying with my leg game for life.
All I could think was “what a waste.”
So I made up my mind then and there.
I was going to make something out of myself, Sheriff.
I began reading and studying while I was in the hospital … If you
hadn’t laid me up, who knows where I’d be today?