Articles
A Friend Indeed
I like watching TV programming from a bygone time—an era when foul language and sexual innuendo weren’t expected, allowed, nor necessary to achieve laughter, drama and/or good ratings. Those days seemed to have died sometime in the early 1970s when “Gunsmoke” and “Bonanza” were drawing their last breaths in primetime and familiar characters such as Barney Fife, Herman Munster, Fred Mertz, Mr. Ed, and many others had long been relegated to the television world of "re-runs".
One of my favorites from that long ago time is, “Leave It To Beaver”. Originally airing from 1957 to 1963, it was a show (mostly) about kids, but watched by kids and adults alike. Hard to believe its been that long ago.
Today, “Beaver” is one of those shows that are a call back to a time of innocence and naiveté long ago lost to most of us. It’s also one of those grim reminders of the ever-persistent forward march of time because, while Wally and Beaver Cleaver are forevermore frozen in time as kids, Tony Dow (Wally) and Jerry Mathers (the Beaver) are now 68 (April 13, 1945) and 64 (June 4, 1948) years old respectively. Still, it can be a “kinda-sorta” nostalgic fun to dust off a few memories and look at life in a considerably less complicated, forever to be black and white world of Mayfield, USA and its occupants of Wally and Theodore (Beaver) Cleaver, their parents Ward and June, and a select group of friends that included, among others, Gus the fireman, Miss Landers, Miss Canfield, Larry Mondello, Judy Hensler, Whitey Whitney, Lumpy Rutherford, and (still “creepy” after all these years) one Edward Clark Haskell.
Beaver Cleaver often referred to things and people as “really neat”. I don’t think Eddie Haskell was ever once called “really neat”. On the contrary, Beaver often referred to him as a “rat”. Eddie was a trouble maker. To have called him obnoxious, two-faced, and despicable was not so much defaming his character as it was defining it. Eddie was the kind of guy who’d hide your glasses and then help you look for them; the kind of guy who’d stick a knife in your back and then have you arrested for carrying a concealed weapon; the kind of guy might have inscribed on his tombstone, “Here lays a man you still can’t trust”. While on occasion he’d show glimpses of conscience, about the only thing dependable about Eddie Haskell (except for being creepy and a rat) was his lack of dependability. His loyalties and his priorities generally were centered around no one other than himself.
But despite his faults, despite his weaknesses, despite himself, Eddie had someone that always seemed to stick by him. For reasons known only to himself, Wally tended to overlook Eddie's faults. He was there to pick him up. He was there to defend him. Wally seemed to understand Eddie in a way no one else wanted to or maybecould. And still, time and time again, Eddie let him down.
I guess even a "rat" can have a best friend because Eddie Haskell had Wally Cleaver.
So, who do you know that reminds you (a little or a lot) of Eddie Haskell? Someone who seems to thrive on stirring someone or something up; someone who’s likely more impish than immoral; more of a hindrance than a hazard; more nuisance than nightmare; someone who causes you to wonder if their allegiances are based in devotion or in convenience; someone you’d be better off not counting on; someone who’s more shirker than worker; someone who inevitably causes more trouble for themselves than for anyone else; someone who will, sooner or later, someday, somehow, someway, somewhere let down a friend.
But a more important (sobering) question may be, “Who does the Lord know that would remind Him (a little or a lot) of Eddie Haskell?” Could be we know that person too. Could be we know them very well. Could be just maybe it’s you or me.
As it concerns our friendship with our Savior, I think it’s not so much a question of if we’re like Eddie, but rather one of how much and how often. I don’t know that it’s fair to say we “work at it” but the fact that we’re way too often the originators and instigators of our own demise isn’t a particularly arguable point. Whatever difficulties that exist between us and our Redeemer will almost always have their roots in our misguided priorities and loyalties. Sometimes, we promise and truly intend to do one thing and then do another. Sometimes, we let Him down. And then we do it again; and then again; and again. Now there’d be a depressing, disheartening, discouraging, dreary, dismal, demoralizing, and disappointing scenario if ever there were one: IF it weren’t for a lone, impossibly bright Light at the end of life’s tunnel.
He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him;
And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever,
For I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever."
And not alone the gift of life, but His own Self He gave me!
Naught that I have mine own I call, I'll hold it for the Giver,
My heart, my strength, my life, my all are His, and His forever."
To guard me on my onward course, and bring me safe to Heaven.
The eternal glories gleam afar, to nerve my faint endeavor;
So now to watch, to work, to war, and then to rest forever."
Eddie Haskell had a friend he didn’t deserve in Wally Cleaver. That’s the other way we’re like Eddie. We also have a Friend we don’t deserve; a Friend standing by to offer a hand when we trip, stumble, or fall; a Friend who understands us; a Friend who despite our faults, despite our weaknesses, despite ourselves, sticks by us; a Friend willing to give His life so that we could have life.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NKJV)
I guess even a sinner can have a best Friend because we have Jesus Christ.
