The Loaded Goat

How do you generally deal with difficult situations in life?

Well, in tonight’s episode of Andy Griffith, we are watching people deal with an explosive situation.  Tonight’s episode is titled, The Loaded Goat.

I will open with a word of prayer, and then we will watch tonight’s episode.

Let’s Pray!

(PLAY THE LOADED GOAT DVD)

After watching that episode of Andy, what can we learn from the story?

Well, here is a recap of what we just watched.  Mayberry is having an underpass put in and this is requiring some blasting out at the construction site.  Hodge brings his goat Jimmy into town for the day, and while running errands the goat gets loose and wonders into a storage shed and eats some of the dynamite.  Everyone becomes afraid of the potential for explosion that Jimmy possesses.  They seek to find solutions to the quandary.  Finally they stumble upon the idea of Barney playing his French Harp and leading this hostile goat out of town.

The mayor and Hodge hear an explosion from the construction site and think Andy and Barney were blown up leading the goat away.  They break into a eulogy not knowing that the duo had returned and were listening in the other room.

Well, let’s take a look at what we can learn from tonight’s episode of Andy Griffith.  When people encounter explosive situations, we wall react differently.

First, some people handle explosive situations with only their emotions.  Do you ever let your emotions get the best of you when you are in a stressful situation?

“Hudge” is a good example of this reaction.  He was being sentimental rather than thinking it through.  In Proverbs 3:13 it says, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding…”

At times, he would lose his temper or “have a short fuse.”  In James 1:19 it says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

And many of the people in tonight’s episode conveniently handed the responsibility to others.  But in Deuteronomy 24:16 it says that, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers, each is to die for his own sin.”  Too often, people try to push the responsibility over to someone else’s plate to deal with.

Next, we learn that some people don’t realize the consequences of their part in the problem.  Mayor Stoner was a prime example of this.  And others, ignore the problem altogether until it is too late, like Otis.  They try shooing away their “explosive goat.”  And then, some people handle the problems, even when they don’t cause them.  Andy and Barney had a “why not us?” attitude.

So, before I give you the way that we should handle situations that are tough, or explosive situations, let me ask you, how should we handle these situations in life?

Well, there are 3 people from tonight’s episode that we are going to look at.  The first one is Barney.  How did Barney react at first?

Well, the first thing that he did was panic.  He was scared, and that is what a lot of people do in explosive situations, or when they don’t know what to do.  Then, Barney even blames the goat for doing what goats do naturally.

Secondly, we can look at the Mayor as another example.  How did the Mayor react?

Well, the Mayor wanted to force a solution that wouldn’t work.  His priorities were in the wrong place.  He wanted to see his plans go on as scheduled.  Is solution, was to shoot the goat, which would simply result in the goat blowing up.

And finally, Andy is our last example.  How did Andy handle the situation?

As we watch Andy deal with the situation, we see that he remained calm in the situation.  Then, he got advice from someone who would know better.  And finally, he was creative when he came up with the idea to lead the goat out of town with music.

Now, as we move into a time of discussion, let’s see what else we can learn from tonight’s episode of Andy Griffith.

What do you do when you become afraid or have a problem you don’t know the answer to?

How could the owner of the goat have acted more responsibly with Jimmy?

Would Mayor Stoner have pushed the bypass through if everyone knew the truth about helping his brother?

Do we ever take advantage of others to help someone else?

Do people ever make their actions seem greater than they are?  Why?

Mr. Burton was a very nice guy but seemed to ignore the fact that his careless storage of the dynamite contributed to the problem.  Otis is very lovable, but threw a tantrum when he didn’t get his way.  Then, he tried to hide from the problem.  Why didn’t Burton make certain the dynamite was safe before starting the blasting again?

How did Otis explain how Jimmy got mad?

Do we ever handle our troubles like Burton or Otis?

Are we satisfied to let someone else worry about it?  Why?

How do you generally behave when you are to blame?

Why didn’t Hudge and the mayor help Andy and Barney?

In Leviticus 16 it is talking about the Day of Atonement.  The original meaning of scapegoat was “escape goat,” the goat that was allowed to “escape” with its life.  The accepted modern meaning is “someone who is punished for the wrongs of others.”  What or who was the scapegoat in this episode?

And in our lives, as Christians, Christ is the scapegoat.  He is the one who paid the price for our sins so that we could go free.

Now, before we close this evening, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?

Well, if there is nothing else, here is your final thought from tonight’s episode.  Barney said, “That’s right.  Nothin’ to worry about.  No sense gettin’ in a panic.  Just stay calm, and cool … (you hear the explosion in the distance) THERE HE GOES!”

Well, let’s close in a word of prayer, and then a closing song.

Let’s Pray!