I recently had lunch in a Lexington restaurant that had 25 TVs around the room.

Most were on sports channels. But 1 lone screen was showing Andy Griffith.

Being over 60, I was instantly more interested in the black and white drama even without sound or subtitles.

Unbeknownst to anyone in the room, I was transported back in time.

I saw the dilemma that was facing Aunt Bea when a street vendor came to town promising better health by purchasing his special elixir.

She bought 2 bottles of the tonic.

Well, Aunt Bea and her friends suddenly all began feeling a lot better.

Andy and Barny were very suspicious about the salesman.

But when Andy saw how Opie was also enamored by the shyster’s ability to make his cigar produce smoke signals, he was really upset by the influence of evil upon his family.

He did his detective work and revealed the hoax that had been perpetrated on his fair town. The miracle elixir turned out to be about 99% alcohol.

How I wish we could once again live in Mayberry.

I know there are those that would say Mayberry was just a fantasy make-believe world totally detached from reality.

I know they would say only a fool would think the skeletons weren’t piled up in the closets. That in real life people were no different back then as they are today.

The darkness of the heart of man may be the same, but we who remember growing up in the ‘40s, ‘50s and even the ‘60s know that America is in a moral tailspin.

I feel sorry for those who grew up without knowing the strong moral family values and simple life that was Mayberry.

I loved the Andy Griffith Show, not because it was different from my reality, but because it actually reflected the reality in which I was raised.

TV sitcoms quit being that for me a long, long time ago.

Next Week: Understanding your compassion Dan Williams is the senior adult pastor at Lexington Baptist Church.