In the year 1914, Thomas Edison stood and said to his son Charles, “Go get your mother…” He stood on and watched as the highly combustible nitrate film exploded and set his entire phonograph factory on fire. Edison knew that none of them would ever see a blaze of this magnitude again.
Later, Edison told the New York Times, “Although I’m 67 I’ll start over again tomorrow.” The damage was extensive, and he knew he was only insured for a third of the value of the factory and firm. According to later estimates, the fire destroyed 10 buildings worth $7 million. And yet…the next morning 7,000 employees reported to work to begin the process of cleanup and rebuilding.
Telegrams, letters of support, and notes of condolences poured in to encourage Edison and his team. Fellow inventor and auto mogul Henry Ford sent Edison a note with a $750,000 loan to purchase supplies to begin the rebuilding effort before the insurance claim was settled.
When I read this story, it brought to mind many things. Through hard work and perseverance, Edison built an empire. It burned in a moment. It wasn’t his fault, it just happened. Stuff happens sometimes, even to a genius inventor like Edison. I’m also struck that the scientist in him was amazed by wonder at the flames. “Hey, come take a look at this!” Shows me a window into his character. Even though he just lost a fortune, he took a moment to marvel at the flames with his family. That is character.
Through it all Edison stays positive, remains loyal to his employees, and without hesitation begins the process of rebuilding that will take great perseverance and tenacity.
Edison was able to voice his enthusiasm to rebuild because he knew and understood what it took to succeed, great failure. Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are the people who don’t realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” And that is one thing Edison never did was give up. It took the man 9,000 tries to devise a novel way for battery storage. It took him 10,000 tries to invent the light bulb. He famously said, “I’ve not found 10,000 ways to fail, I’ve found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
Some of Edison’s ideas failed spectacularly at the time and later came to prevalence like the talking doll or the Edison Home Service Club (a la Netflix). These ideas failed not because they weren’t good ones, later they were developed into successful multi-million-dollar ventures, Edison didn’t happen to have the specific skill set for the talking doll or the national reach for an
advertising campaign to make the catalog club work. God does not make mistakes. He made Edison exactly the way he was supposed to be: Curious, positive, loyal, and full of vigor.
In the same way, he made each of us, as unique as a snowflake or fingerprint, vastly different to carry out the special divine plan that He set aside for us. The road is long, the path is winding and treacherous along the way. Bad stuff happens. Even through the fire, the Lord is there for us.
Psalm 65:11 says Even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become lush pastures.
I wonder if, after a few months of rebuilding, Edison felt discouraged. Here’s a note from my journal as winter weather drug on in late spring in Michigan:
The alarm beeps and it is Monday again. The long day looms before me. The pit in my stomach tightens. Can I do this yet again? God sends gentle showers to melt the clods and level the ridges. It is only with courage, strength, and grace that I receive each day from God’s Word that smooths the rough edges of despair, denial, and doubt. With the life-giving spring of water, He refreshes me and sends me on my way, another day to serve Him, no matter the circumstance.