Accidental Discoveries

 

On this day in history 173 years ago a French man by the name of Jolly-Bellin spilt something all over his wife’s table cloth while she was out shopping.

The substance was a turpentine-oil mix from an oil burner. Oh no, disaster. Well as he started to try and clean up the mess before his wife came home, he discovered something rather fascinating. The parts of the table cloth that had been spattered with this mixture had become cleaner than the rest.

So he started to experiment and he started to discover the process that we now call “dry cleaning”. It became hugely useful for the clothes cleaning business and within a few years had spread all over the world.

All from that little accident with the turpentine lamp.

Well after a little internet search, I found that many great inventions have been discovered by accident. Matches, Coca Cola, X-Rays, Shatterproof glass, microwave ovens and superglue were all discovered by accident. Maybe we have the makings of a series for Thought for the day. Google “learning mind accidental discoveries” to read more about these.

Why do I share this story? Partly to give you a little encouragement if over Christmas this year you have spilled something on your carpets and have got into trouble. Perhaps you will become the next inventor!

Partly because I think there’s a moral to this tale! Some people discover the Christian faith by a long search. Others through stumbling across something.

Jesus told a story about a man who was out in a field and he stumbled across treasure accidentally. I think it speaks of how some people find faith in Jesus Christ when they weren’t looking for it! Maybe you have just tuned into HCR today by accident, and you’ve found that each morning there’s a little slot from one of the local church leaders sharing a story about their faith. Well why not keep listening each morning at 830am. You may make a wonderful discovery of the meaning of life, the wonder of forgiveness, and be surprised about Jesus Christ.   

Well think about Monsieur Jolly-Bellin spilling his oil. He thought it was an accident, it turned out to be a great discovery. I don’t believe in coincidences, I believe in the God who makes things happen. I wonder what he is up to in your life this Christmas and into 2023. Keep an eye out! and have a Happy New Year!

Charlie Newcombe, 28/12/22