GREAT VALUE IN DISASTER
Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December 1914. Although the damage exceeded 2 million dollars, the buildings were only insured for $238,000.00 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fire proof. Much of Edison's life's work went up in spectacular flames that December night. At the height of the fire, Edison's 24 year old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind. "My heart ache for him," said Charles. "He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, "Charles, where's your mother?" When I told him that I didn't know, he said, "Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives." The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank god we can start anew." Three weeks later after the fire, Edison managed to deliver his first photograph.
The Sower's Seeds - Extracted from "Chicken Soup Series, Jack Cranfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications Inc, 1995
Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December 1914. Although the damage exceeded 2 million dollars, the buildings were only insured for $238,000.00 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fire proof. Much of Edison's life's work went up in spectacular flames that December night. At the height of the fire, Edison's 24 year old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind. "My heart ache for him," said Charles. "He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, "Charles, where's your mother?" When I told him that I didn't know, he said, "Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives." The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank god we can start anew." Three weeks later after the fire, Edison managed to deliver his first photograph.
The Sower's Seeds - Extracted from "Chicken Soup Series, Jack Cranfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications Inc, 1995
A clear conscience is a good pillow - American Proverb
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