whitehothair

Like all places, there are good things and bad things about Texas, which I’ve read or heard. When I’ve heard or read about Texas, I understand it’s vast and bold and that the “Pine Curtain” is another name for “Deep East Texas.”

When I think of the Lone Star State, I also think of the fictional Texas rangers Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae, characters from Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Lonesome Dove.”

All the “Lonesome Dove” characters are memorable and real and sometimes heart-breaking. It’s a graphic story, but one of the best stories. I didn’t think I’d like a Western, but I read the book many years ago, when one of my brothers recommended it.

This brother is a law enforcement officer. He takes care of all living things, from the smallest most helpless bird, to the wild geese to the black bears, and to all human beings he meets, honorable or dishonorable.

This brother always helps me with my anxiety attacks, and the hurtful memories, some of which (like our pastor said Sunday) offer only “fresh grief.” But this brother, calmly and steadily and faithfully, fulfills every duty and calms every fear and loves others first, no matter what.

Somehow, this brother reminds me of Gus, the brave and loyal and fictional Texas ranger, who, along with Clara, helped restore Lorena.

The TV mini-series was perfectly-cast, especially Robert Duvall as Augustus “Gus” McCrae and Tommy Lee Jones as Woodrow Call.

The way Gus and Clara help restore Lorie is probably one of the best parts of the book, about the calm steady love of a true friend, and how that friend can save your life and help you believe in yourself, and in life itself, once again.  Such good-hearted people help you remember the best parts of yourself, and the best parts of other people too.

Have you ever thought about the honor, of people who restore other people’s honor?

If we are real lucky, we will meet one or two, maybe a few more (maybe many more) true people, like Gus and Call, the lonely Texas Rangers of the old frontier.

The honorable hearts of the best among us are as strong as rocks, without being hard, and as beautiful and as tall as pines, without vainglory. The honorable walk toward us to help, time after time after time, no matter what. Stand up, when the quiet honor passes by.