Have you ever heard of Richard Gurley Drew? While his name is perhaps unknown, a product he created is very well known and might be something used daily, especially if you work in an office. He was awarded U.S. Patent No. 1,760,820 and in 2007, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
“Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Drew attended the University of Minnesota before working as a lab technician for 3M, then a sandpaper manufacturer. While delivering trial batches of sandpaper to the local auto body shop for testing, he noticed painters having difficulty masking car parts because the paint peeled off when the tape was removed. Drew devised a tape of cabinetmaker’s glue and treated crepe paper. Automakers found the tape ideal for masking off areas during auto body painting and immediately began to place orders. The tape was marketed as Scotch® masking tape in 1925.
“Five years later, Drew developed the transparent Scotch® cellophane tape. The invention was a major asset during the Great Depression. It became a popular tool for repairing ripped, torn, or broken items rather than buying new ones. Books, window shades, toys, clothing, and even paper currency were mended with cellophane tape.
“Drew’s tape innovations were the first in a family of 900 pressure-sensitive tapes used worldwide in office, medical, electrical, construction, and other applications.”1
Today is National Cellophane Tape Day. I’m sure his name will stick with you now!
Let me ask, are you a sticky person? That’s an odd question, isn’t it? Think about it, though. Have you ever bought some cheap or generic tape that doesn’t stick? Maybe you thought you could save some money as you were wrapping Christmas presents and you picked up a no-name brand 3-pack at a dollar store. After wrapping a few packages, you
noticed many of the corners had popped loose. The tape was junk, and the least amount of tension caused it to release.
Again, I ask, are you a sticky person? When given task to do, do you stick with it to the very end? 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Some days, serving the Lord can be difficult. He calls us to serve with uncooperative people. He might call us to serve in less than ideal places. He calls us to give our all to Him and His control. He calls us to surrender our emotions. He might even call us to surrender our lives.
Missionary Josh Sullivan, sent to Africa out of Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, TN was kidnapped at gunpoint from his pulpit in Motherwell, South Africa. He has since been returned, unharmed. One of the missionaries we support works with Bro. Josh and his family and was there the Wednesday this happened. How easy would it be for all of them to collectively say, “I QUIT! I knew things would be rough planting a church but I never imagined this!”
Sticktoitiveness! Paul gave this mini-sermon to the church in Philippi. “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” (Philippians 4:1)
It doesn’t take anything special to quit. Anyone can do it. No special training or requirements are necessary. However, if you want to stand and be counted, if you want to make a difference, then man up and stick to it! “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men (be manly men), be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
1https://www.invent.org/inductees/richard-gurley-drew
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