It was 60 years ago this year that the Edsel was introduced. A car like
none other, set to fill a void between Mercury and Ford pricing, introduced in a
recession year, based on a market in 1954 that had moved. Add the unique
styling, horse collar grill, Tele touch shifting where buttons were in the
center of the steering wheel and prone to fail, and quality problems, it was
doomed from the start. Its total production over three model years never even
approached its target of 250,000 the first year, and it was silenced, put away,
and hoped no one would remember and still buy lots of Ford products. A butt of
the collector car world for decades, now they are becoming trendy in a weird
sort of way, to a generation who wasn’t there when they were new. Personally I
always thought they were strange, but somehow cool, have only ridden in one a
few times, and it felt like any other floating car from the fifties. But the
view from the front, well.....
Personally I liked the thin tail lights, and the airy modern look of it.
Would I have bought one then, nah, would I now, well maybe. I am so tired of
55-57 Chevies, bored with the ‘59 Cadillac tail fins, and only like the ‘57 T
Bird, the others are OK, something about those fins, but somehow the Edsel looks
good. Not sure why, maybe orphans, cars and kids have always appealed to me, but
having one might be fun for some cruise nights, an occasional car show, and just
to tease the neighbors. But even restored high end cars are going for
$25-30,000, it would eat into my riding budget, and also my food and mortgage.
But with the average price of a new car over $33,000 last year, a new old Edsel
at 2/3rd’s the price may make sense. And with them appreciating, might be better
than the .0005% I get at the bank. Of course I don’t have to wash or change the
oil on my savings account, but I cannot drive it either. And if I could, maybe
not even through the drive up. So maybe all those who bought Edsels and for
years caught grief over it, are now being heralded as being forward thinking,
and selling their cars for a profit. Maybe Ford should have consulted them
first.
The purpose of free enterprise is to make a profit. Henry Ford once said “a
company that makes only money is not a good business.” Billionaire talk, but
true. Look at those car companies recently orphaned, Plymouth, Mercury, Saturn,
and Oldsmobile, they didn’t make money, so were dropped. But car lovers are
keeping them alive in collecting and restoration. Like a shepherd protects his
sheep, they are protecting the cars. Shepherding what is left, protecting them,
preserving them, and showing them off with love. At prices many times what they
were worth when new. Jesus is referred to as the good shepherd, and one quality
he had over a hired shepherd is he was willing to die for his flock. Which
amazed the disciples, they were amazed that he would die for them, making him a
unique shepherd as well. Unlike someone hired to do a job, Jesus invested
himself in them and us, where a jobber may only get the job done, the sheep
being a commodity, if some are lost, that’s what happens. Yet our great shepherd
says he is patient so that none should perish. When trouble arises they sell off
or abandon those damaged, while Jesus went back for the one in 99. Imagine we
were shepherded by hired shepherd or pastor, how many of us were that one? While
some churches brag on the 99 and their size and scope, Jesus looks for the one
hidden for view, who isn’t welcome in church, who cannot read a Bible, maybe
cannot even stand. All the miracles he performed were on the ones left behind,
the 99 are never talked of as being blessed, yet are a thorn in his side. How
real is the Jesus you serve?
I have begun to feel sorry for those who have not had the same set of
trials I have had, they have missed out on seeing side of Jesus you only see
when in turmoil. If never sick, I miss the great physician. If rich, I miss the
Jehovah Jireh, my provider. If no one ever comes against me I don’t need a
protector, and if I know it all, I never need a wonderful counselor. We need
Jesus, and always have and always will. No big Bible, bumper sticker,
membership, or title can give what the can. He is the great shepherd, and we all
need one.
Maybe the difference between the greatness of Jesus and those who say they
do is Jesus shows it. He dies for his flock. He doesn’t transfer from ne church
to another, he never changes his message or his love, and he stays with us
1%’ers. Long before there were outlaw bikers Jesus was the original outlaw, the
1%’er who rebelled in love for us. Would Jesus have driven an Edsel? I would
like to think he would visit an Edsel dealer or two, lots of lost sheep there.
Maybe cruise by Studebaker, Hudson, Kaiser, and Packard. He liked the orphans,
the mainstream, like churches then and now, upset him. Read the New Testament,
filled with warnings about false promises, practices, teachings, and rules not
needed for salvation. And just like the Edsel lovers who bought for love, he
would never sell for money like many do now. Paid in full, name in the book of
life, our title of ownership in him. When you take away the cost in dollars, the
fellowship is richer, and so are we. For how can you put a value on life? Yet
many have and do. Maybe a ride in an old Edsel may convince them. Maybe some
time with Jesus will show them. There are great mechanics, but few master
mechanics. And even they don’t know it all. There are shepherds and a great
shepherd. His investment in you was his entire being, his life. Looking for
another car, try an Edsel. Looking for love, you need Jesus. Think about it, a
gray SUV for $50,000 the kids show no respect to, or an Edsel, the kids will
want to look cool in. And respect. It is a poor company that makes only money,
make sure your shepherd isn’t in it for just that. Jesus for less than the price
of some religions. Suddenly it’s 1958 all over again! Edsel and Jesus, two names
worth remembering. Edsels are back in style....don’t miss out this time around.
Hmm, you know that sounds a lot like Jesus...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
Average new car price zips 2.6% to $33,560