You may not know it, but you owe a lot to a man named Tommie Eddie. From
New Jersey of all places, he even has a town named after him. Now don’t go
looking for Tommie or Eddie, that’s not it. And it is not the town I remember
growing up by either. Somewhere in the last century it was changed from Menlo
Park to honor him. Once known as The Wizard, the Wizard of Menlo Park, Tommie
Eddie never saw a NASCAR race. He was no redneck, and eventually became one of
the richest men on the planet. If not all of New Jersey. If you haven’t
guessed by now, we know him by the name of Thomas Alva Edison, I like to call
him Tommie Eddie. The man responsible for putting sound on a film,
electrically, the first recording device. He invented the light bulb as we know
it, and was hated by John D. Rockefeller because of it, he felt threatened by
Tommie Eddie and the fact it made kerosene lamps obsolete. But what few
remember is that old TE built the first movie studio, the Black Maria, where he
filmed the first movie, on the invention he invented, the movies. Flip on a
light, thank old Tommie. Go to the latest 3D, he is the great grandfather of
film. Listen to the radio or a CD, without him inventing how to reproduce sound
on tape, originally foil, you might have to sit and read by a kerosene lamp.
You would miss the Oscars, for no movies would be available, blame Hollywood on
him. And when listening to music on your stereo, that is his fault too, he just
never saw Rap music coming I guess. But this man from Menlo Park, now called
Edison, New Jersey, changed all humanity for years to come, all within a short
period of time. Going deaf, maybe too much volume on the old Victrola, he was
asked about his failures. His answer was, “I never failed, but I did find a
thousand ways that didn’t work.” Laying claim to inventing the burnt out light
bulb, something we fail to give him credit for. I like that...a man who never
gave up, despite having to live in Jersey, being a wizard, and having his name
on the maps today. Welcome to Edison, New Jersey....we’re off to see the
wizard!
We call it the Industrial Revolution, a time in our history where legends
were made, and fortunes obtained. From banking to steel to cars to lights and
movies, over 100 years ago these inventions were new to the world. We went to
bed early, got up early, and read by kerosene lamp. We never traveled far from
home, as the horse and buggy took a long time, if you could find the road, and
if it was passable. Rich folk road the rails, but most of America lived on
farms, or big cities, no suburbs yet. No Levittowns, no Saturday barbeques, no
bikes left in the driveways. No car pools, no Social Security at age 65, you
worked until you died, and many didn’t make it to 57, the average age when
Social Security was passed into law. Consider that fact the next time complain
about nothing to do, no where to go , or nothing on TV. We’ve come a long way
baby...and Tommie Eddie was one of those who led us out of darkness into light,
out of the cities into the suburbs, and brought us the Academy Awards. How many
stars of today thank him when getting their Oscar? How many even know who he
was? Yet this man whose name I call him by sounds like a NASCAR hero, remember
him at the next night race. Yeah, he is an influence there too.
But another man, not an inventor, is even more famous, more renowned, and
his name used every day. No towns named after him, no inventions bear his name,
and in all the time he spent on the road, I never heard of him travelling to
Jersey. But He is the major influence in the world today-Jesus Christ. A man
that came to separate the sheep from the goats-the saved from the unsaved.
Whose name is held in high esteem, and also used to curse. A man who did more
things with less, but having everything at His disposal. Who in three short
years of ministry, made more of an impact in the world than anyone else has, or
ever will. Before the light bulb He was light, leading us in the way to go.
Before recorded music, He was making music in heaven, and before movies, people
stood inline to see Him. A man like Tommie Eddie, who never failed, but instead
showed us thousands of ways to be successful. Who took the blame for our sin,
and still does today...willingly, if only you give Him the chance. No wizard,
but able to do things that no others could. A man who rose from the dead, the
first resurrection...too bad Tommie Eddie hadn’t been born yet, that would have
been a sight to see on CNN, imagine the report on that one. Or the polls taken
on where is the body? And the movies made about it....and yet never being there
so many report on Him still today. Thanks to His word, we have the written
evidence, and thanks to the Holy Spirit, He still makes personal appearances
today. With the show not over yet, one big encore to come, the invitations
sent, but few RSVP’s received. Excuses made, lies contrived, and time not left
for Him. And still He is willing to forgive you for your thousands of failures,
your thousands of ways that didn’t work. For He is the way, the truth , and the
light. He will accept the blame for your failures. Sorry Tommie Eddie, you may
have brought us the bulb, that burns out, but He brings us eternal life. That
never will.
So when you turn on the lights tonight, stop and thank Jesus. Between
songs, thank Him. At the cinema, thank Him, for His coming attractions are way
more interesting and exciting than any special effects. Better yet, let’s stop
and thank Him now. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, just
like He taught His disciples. Remember His love as He hung from the cross, and
remember His promise to resurrect you, if you believe, just like He rose from
death Himself. Old Tommie Eddie made quite an impact on our daily lives, what
has Jesus made on yours?
By the way Tommie Eddie went deaf, no way for the creation to pay back the
creator. Jesus is listening, worship Him now. That’s the best way for His
creation to honor the creator. In the beginning God said let there be light.
It took almost 6000 yeas after God created it for Tommie Eddie to duplicate it.
You don’t have that long.....don’t waste your time on the creation, when you can
spend it with the creator.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthw25biker.blogspot.com