So I’m not quite sure how it came up today in the office, but somehow we were talking about the Andy Griffith show and I made a comment that if my mom started a blog it would be called “winkin’, blinkin’ and nod”. (That’s Episode number 96 “Opie the Birdman”for those who are counting) So of course when I got home tonight and flipped on the TV, just guess which episode was on… no joke.
So this will be probably the the corniest post you’ll ever catch from me… but here goes….
I remember watching Andy Griffith so much with my mom growing up. Seriously, if it was on any station at any time we were watching it. It of course got to the point that where I kinda started to dread when I heard the infamous whistling intro. Black and White, Color, even the R.F.D. episodes were all a part of the education. I freakin’ felt like half of our immediate family probably lived somewhere in Mount Pilot. But as I’ve gotten older I have to admit that part of me from time to time has thought that life in Mayberry doesn’t sound too terribly bad. Now I know that probably sounds ridonkulous from somebody like myself who definitely enjoys his share of technology, but here’s the thing. I think I would be willing to trade all the modern musings that fill my life and have even come to characterize a large portion of my personality for the opportunity to live in some mythical place where life seems so joy-filled and content.
Cheesy to the core… I know.
But I really am compelled to think about George’s message from this weekend about Joy, the choice we have and how often I am probably given the opportunity to choose Joy over any number of emotions like Jealousy, Contempt, Envy… you name it, and I can almost guarantee that I generally choose that over Joy.
I think for me it’s so much a perspective issue like George talked about. I simply don’t see that if I choose Joy over my other selfish responses, just how its gonna produce the kind of results and outcomes that I want. Choosing Joy in many situations means letting go of my sense of control over the situation. If I can simply maintain the perspective that God is really in control over every aspect of my life, how can my response be anything but Joy and contentment… Joy in fact that the God has actually chosen (and continues to choose) to take care of and love someone like me… even if I don’t live in Mayberry.
Opie: “The cage sure looks awful empty, don’t it Pa?”
Andy: “Yes son, it sure does… But, don’t the trees seem nice and full.”
Now thats perspective.
I’ve been to “Mount Pilot” It’s nowhere close to where it’s fictionally located in the show.
I kinda have the same sentimental connection with Andy Griffith. I used to watch it with Dad.
Don’t worry about the cheese factor bro. I’m as cheesey and sentimental as it gets. It’s good for the soul.
The Andy Griffith Show is the best show EVER. I’ve watched since I was little and I’m still known to watch at 10 and 10:30 PM on weeknights. I do believe Winkin’, Blinkin’ and Nod came to Opie as a result of that blasted slingshot, didn’t they?
By the way, my maiden name is Mayberry. Seriously.
Love it, Julie! I used to do everything I could to make my dad laugh and mess him up while he was whistling along to that intro. Plenty of good family time in the household of my childhood was spent watching Andy (even if we rolled our eyes every now and then!)
I have been going over and over what George talked about on Sunday and the challenge to CHOOSE joy. It seems like it should be simple, but in the midst of a week that’s going fine, I find myself allowing complaints and comparisons and blasted insecurities to be my choice over joy.
In progress…
I love that episode. It’s on my top 5 Andy Griffith episodes. Right up there with Opie and His Merry Men.
BTW – I enjoy the blog. I usually don’t like personal blogs of people I don’t know, but yours caught my eye.