Life In Hazzard County

Have you ever seen the old TV series “The Dukes of Hazzard?”  Now, I am not talking about the movie remake released in 2005, but the car jumping, fist fighting, good ole boy series that ran for seven seasons from 1979 to 1985.  I don’t remember watching the show that much when it was first on because, to be honest, I thought it was too stupid!  Recently I noticed that one of our satellite channels shows reruns and I began to record the program.  I even went as far as to do a little research on the show and its original cast members.  It turns out that the show is actually quite deceptive…

The series portrays a group of very simple, back hills, country type, bumbling individuals who live in the make believe southern land of Hazzard County.  It is a classic tale of the good guys vs the bad guys shown in a very humorous way.  It turns out though, that the characters in the show who played the parts of barely educated, lost in the woods, country bumpkins were (and are still) very well educated, talented and accomplished actors.

As I watch the show now, I observe it from a totally different viewpoint.  Now the thoughts of these prolific individuals – acting out – such silly roles causes me even more intrigue as I consider their craft and the fun they must have had playing their parts, while I bend over in laughter in front of our flat screen TV!  Did you know that Sorrell Booke, the actor who played the ridicules “Boss Hogg” had been a counterintelligence officer in the Korean War and was fluent in 5 languages?  That his sheriff Rosco P Coltrane, played by James Best, is a very accomplished and well known dramatic actor in the movies and has guest starred over 280 times on various TV shows throughout the years.  And the list goes on and on. Tom Wopat (Luke Duke) is a recording artist and has starred in lead roles on Broadway up to and including the present, John Schneider (Bo Duke) is a born-again Christian, has stayed active in TV and in Movie roles and co-founded the Children’s Miracle Network as well as a production company that produces family orientated videos and recordings.  Then there is Ben Jones who played Cooter Davenport and later became a two term US Congressman after the show ran its course.

My point is that what you saw was not always what was actually happening!  I read that in the course of the seven seasons of the show that they actually used over 300 1968 and 1969 Dodge Chargers because they usually destroyed at least one car a show.  On the screen you only see the car jumping and later landing safely (unless you’re real observant and occasionally see parts flying off the car or fenders and/or the hood being crunched  just before they cut to another scene!)

According to Romans 4:17 where it says that we have a God “that calleth those things that be not as though they were.” (KJV)  And Hebrews 11:1 that states that our faith “convinces us of things we cannot (yet) see.” (God’s Word © parenthesis mine) we also live in Hazzard County!  Many of the events that we see in our daily lives do not line up with what is actually happening, for behind the scene God is preparing a victory for us in the Kingdom of Heaven!  Just as the actors on the Dukes of Hazzard show played characters that were not like who they REALLY were, the trials and tribulations we face each day on the show of our lives are not always the true rendition of what our faith says they REALLY are.  Our job is to stay firm in our faith until we see the visual manifestation of the promises that God has for us – which is the actual truth of the situations we face!

Hummm… kind of interesting thoughts huh?  So, the next time you face a difficult situation, I would suggest that you remember to do as Bo and Luke Duke did as they nervously faced the obstacle that they were rapidly approaching in their speeding, bright orange General Lee Charger.  They would glance at each other with a determined look, put the petal to the metal and then yell “Ya-hoo!” as they leaped over the problem and drove off into the sunset!  Remember that the children of Israel also yelled out the “Ya-hoo!” of faith and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down before them!  Have a great weekend.  Tune into His Word and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”  

PS:  "Breaker one, Breaker one, I might be crazy but I ain't dumb.  Craaazy 

          Cooter comin' atcha , come on..."  Hey!  I had a CB too!!!