MOYLAN’S ARROW

Jim Moylan (1945-2025) was a Ford Motor Co. engineer for 34 years before retirement. Moylan took a company car to go across the large Ford facility to a meeting. The car was almost out of fuel and it was pouring down rain. He pulled up to the pump and got out and got soaked because the gas tank fill cap was on the other side of the car. He, (like most of us have done), got back in the car and turned around to line up his vehicle on the other side to pump the gas.
He pulled over and made some notes. He instantly designed a fuel icon that is on the fuel gauge with a little arrow on the side of the icon pointing to the side the fuel fill is located. He proposed the idea in 1986 and it was implemented by Ford in 1989. The idea was soon picked up by other car manufacturers and now it is incorporated into most vehicles. It is called Moylan’s Arrow.
This is the genius of a simple idea. As soon as I read this story, I went out and looked at our fuel gauge, and sure enough, between the empty and full marks there is a little icon of a gas pump with an arrow pointing to the right side. I had noticed the little icon, but not the arrow.
I sure enjoy these kinds of stories. Especially when something so simple can keep us from frustration and the embarrassment of turning around at the pump.
May the Lord give us simple ideas to implement and make great changes for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Give us some little arrows to point the way, I pray.

“Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” Jesus