Lessons From Andy
Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D.
I'm not much into pop culture or celebrity worship, but I have found myself sort of grieving these past couple of weeks at the loss of comedian and actor Andy Griffith who died on July 3.
You may not remember Andy Griffith as a comedian, singer, stage actor, or movie actor. He is most remembered for "The Andy Griffith Show," which was a spin-off from the popular skit on the Danny Thomas Show in the 1950's. In a skit entitled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith," Andy was a goofy sheriff in the south.
In the early episodes of his sitcom, Andy was more of a comic, but after the first year of the program, his character transitioned from country rube to seemingly the only normal person in Mayberry. In my opinion, next to Fred Rogers of "Fred Rogers' Neighborhood," the "Andy Griffith Show" was the best television program ever produced. Here are a few lessons I learned from Andy.
Protect others' feelings. Barney was constantly making a fool of himself. For example, in "Andy and Helen Have Their Day," Barney, Thelma Lou, Andy and Helen go on a picnic. Helen and Andy, in an attempt to get some private time, explore a cave together, but are trapped by a cave-in.
Barney organizes a rescue, not knowing that Andy and Helen have already found another way out of the cave, gone home, and gotten cleaned up. When they learn of the rescue underway, Andy and Helen don their dirty clothes, return to the cave, cover themselves with dirt, and feign weakness when they are finally "rescued" by Barney and his team - all in an attempt to ensure that Barney doesn't look foolish. Barney makes the front page of the paper as a hero and that newspaper can be seen hanging on the wall in the sheriff's office in later episodes.
That episode, along with many other similar episodes, taught us that caring friends will do whatever they can to ensure the integrity of others.
Andy also taught us that personal integrity matters. I'll never forget Andy talking to Opie, reminding him that his behavior is a reflection of his family. He once told his son, "Opie, never forget you are a Taylor." Life isn't just about me. My behavior reflects not only my character, but it also reflects on the people I care about.
The "Andy Griffith Show" taught us that people matter more than titles, jobs, or houses. Andy had the opportunity to move away from Mayberry more than once, but each time he realized the quirky characters of Mayberry were his family and no job in the big city could ever replace the happiness he found in his small town office.
In an episode called "Opie and the Spoiled Kid," a rich boy seems to have it all and nearly draws Opie into his bratty lifestyle. But by the end of the episode, we realize it is Opie who really has it all. Happiness comes from how we live our lives and the people that we surround ourselves with rather than new bicycles or fancy cars.
The show taught us that people are lovable - warts and all. Aunt Bee is full of stoicism, propriety, and manners, but at the same time she is moody, gossipy, and hyper-concerned about appearances. Floyd and Gomer are as dense as they come, but both are as genuine as gold, willing to help anytime they are called upon. Barney is conceited, selfish, insecure, and sometimes dishonest, but he always rises to the occasion when he is tested.
Even Andy wasn't perfect. In the episode "Mr. McBeevee," Opie meets a telephone lineman named Mr. McBeevee. He describes his meeting with "the man who walks in the trees" to Andy and Barney, who think he is making the story up. As the episode proceeds, Andy punishes Opie for lying. Eventually, Andy realizes he may have not handled it well. Barney says, "Surely you don't believe that story do you?" In one of the most touching lines in all eight years of the program, Andy responds, "No, but I believe in Opie."
There will never be another program so clean, so funny,
so predictable and yet so refreshing as the "Andy Griffith
Show." At a time when it is easy to find examples of trash
television, Andy Griffith's legacy is a timeless source of thought-provoking
entertainment.