A Life Marked by Greatness

Over the weekend we visited the Florida estate of Thomas Edison. Much to Alana's disappointment, all the talk about Thomas and we never did see the big blue tank engine. Instead, we viewed Thomas Edison's home, lab, and gardens containing plants from around the world.

Edison's 1,093 lifetime patents changed the world. The light bulb, motion pictures, audio recording, concrete mixes, among many other invention are all things that today exist as commonplace (not bad for someone who started out selling concessions on the train from Port Huron to Mt. Clemens). Such accomplishment leads one to wonder, what lies behind a life marked by such greatness? Perhaps it was his drive and work ethic, maybe it was just the product of an incredibly gifted individual, or the fulfillment of a God-given destiny.

Three components to Edison's life struck me as crucial to his success. First, like many of the greats in history, Thomas endured a great deal of suffering. As a child, he spent much of the first eight years of life ill with scarlet fever which left him partially deaf. When he was finally able to start school, he was constantly in trouble due to his inquisitive interruptions. In adulthood, his wife of only thirteen years died at a young age. Such suffering has a way of leaving one bitter or better. For Edison, it made him better.

Secondly, Edison had someone behind the scenes who encouraged him and believed in him. Thomas' mother saw his inquisitive nature as a strength to be developed, as opposed to weakness to be punished. Following Thomas' few short months in school and a confrontation with the schoolmaster, Mrs. Edison took on the responsibility of his education. Later in life, Thomas said that it was his mother who gave him a reason to succeed.

Thirdly, Edison had a way of successfully fighting against the tyranny of the urgent and focusing his time on his life's passion. After feeling bogged down with the business of running his factory in Newark, New Jersey, Edison moved the factory to Menlo Park, hiring a manager and accountants to take care of the business. This freed Thomas to focus his energies on what he loved, experimenting and inventing. As a result, he and his team received 32 patents over the following two years.

Reflecting on the accomplishments of such an individual, I'll leave you with three questions to ponder: How have life's experiences shaped you (have they left you bitter or better)? Who are the people in your life that encourage you toward reaching your God-given potential? What is your life's passion and what interferes with you devoting time toward that end?