Interesting life lessons learned from Lonesome Dove Part 1

Lonesome Dove: A Novel

So, there I was...

Poised at the edge of my seat flipping through different movies available to stream via Netflix on my TV. You see, the weather got the better of me. My well laid out plans to hunt this past week have been dashed by 5 inches of rain.

Instead of spending my day out in woods hunting the elusive 'King of the Forest' (some freak of nature monster buck with a rack the size of a VW), I spent my day cleaning the garage, prepping for the Thanksgiving meal, and digging a trench in the back yard because of a failed gutter that needs to be replaced.

After a hard day at it at home, and the cabin fever about to get the better of me I stumbled upon the Lonesome Dove series. It has been some time since I have watched the series and read the book. Well... a good part of the 950+ page book.

The show opens just like the book with Gus on the front porch yelling at some pigs who themselves were eating a rattle snake... Always an interesting picture. In a sense, the ole' devil is defeated by some dirty ole stinky swine.

Captain Augustus McCrae Gus is the picture of a man, while getting older in his years, he has yet settled down. He still yearns for adventure and to live in the wild. He loves the things of the past and wants more of them. Unsatisfied living the docile life, he fills his days with whiskey, women, and gambling.

All that to say is that Gus is also loyal to his friends and those he is in charge of. He would be the first to head out to go a save someone who was in need.


Gus desperately needed one last adventure and the trip to Montana. Call and Gus had often thought about going to Montana to raise cattle and they finally made up their mind to do it. This 'code' of acting upon your words and living by your word was something that Gus truly believed in. This code was stronger that his love for Clara. This code was stronger that the pull to run off with Lorena off to San Francisco.

His love for adventure ultimately got him killed when he was struck by two arrows from an indian hunting party they he fell upon chasing buffalo.

Lesson Learned?

Here are a couple Life lessons that I think can be learned from ol' Gus

1. Be willing to stand up for what is right
2. Be willing to go into harms way to save another
3. True love never fades
4. Holding too strong to an 'ideal' life will often allow you miss the blessing God has for you. It may not be your perfect picture for your life, but it may be God's.

Captain Woodrow F. Call
Call, was the quiet hardworking type. Almost to a fault. He worked hard and demanded discipline from those under him.


His hardened spirit and determination help carry the men from Texas to Montana. While the strong stoic, he never really liked recalling life's mistakes. Most notably living up to telling Newt that he was his father.


His desire for something better and for one last adventure was what lead Call and Gus and the rest of the men to head up North. One final adventure to end their days long forgot as Texas Rangers.


He is the picture of a man to live by his words, answer his own call to adventure as well as a man who lives up to his promises. He promised that he would bring Gus back to Clara's orchard and bury him there.


Lesson Learned?


1. You can't live life in the past
2. Honoring your word is a solid vow (James writes to us, let your yes be yes and your no be no)

Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. James 5:12

Blue Duck was the son of a Commanche Chief and Mexican prisoner of War. Legend has it that he and his father had a disagreement and he was banished from the tribe. From there, Blue Duck formed his own band of misfits and thieves.


In the show, Blue Duck was unfinished business for Gus and Call. He represented a man, bent on doing harm to others. He ends of taking Lorena and uses her to try and trap Cal and Gus.


Often times he is close to being caught but slips by with grace. Ultimately Blue Duck is caught and tried. Cal meets up with him again one last time before Blue Duck was going to be hung. 


I truly believe Blue Duck is a picture of the devil because the devil seeks to devour and destroy us. Blue Duck did whatever he could to get at Cal and Gus. He taunted them, he trapped something they loved in order to draw them out and kill them.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Lesson Learned?

1. Things in my life and in my past may continue to haunt me in my future even though I am a Christian
2. There are things in this world hell bent on destroying me and those I love
3. Ultimately it is important to not to chase after them and right your own personal wrong... it is more important to lift it up to God. In the end, He wins.

Well.... there is so much more I want to say and little time to say it. So this will be the end of Part 1 of this series. Be sure to stay tuned to the rest.

Jeff Barnes