Persistence Story

7/29/2019 Persistence Story

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PERSISTENCE


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In 1883, a creative engineernamed John Roebling wasinspired by an idea tobuild a spectacular bridge

connecting New York withthe Long Island.


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However bridge buildingexperts throughout theworld thought that thiswas an impossible feat

and told Roebling toforget the idea.


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It just could not be

done. It was not

practical. It hadnever been done

before


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Roebling could not ignore thevision he had in his mind ofthis bridge. He thought aboutit all the time and he knew

deep in his heart that it couldbe done. He just had to sharethe dream with someone else.


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After much discussion and

persuasion he managed toconvince his sonWashington, an up and

coming engineer, that thebridge in fact could be

built.


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Working together for thefirst time, the father andson developed concepts ofhow it could be

accomplished and how theobstacles could be

overcome


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With great excitementand inspiration, and theheadiness of a wildchallenge before them,

they hired their crewand began to build their

dream bridge.


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The project started well,

but when it was only afew months underway atragic accident on thesite took the life of JohnRoebling.


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Washington was injured

and left with a certainamount of braindamage, which resultedin him not being able towalk or talk or even

move.


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"We told them so."

"Crazy men and theircrazy dreams."

"It`s foolish to chasewild visions."


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Everyone had a negativecomment to make and felt

that the project should bescrapped since the

Roeblings were the onlyones who knew how thebridge could be built.


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In spite of his handicapWashington was neverdiscouraged and stillhad a burning desire to

complete the bridge andhis mind was still as

sharp as ever.


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He tried to inspire and

pass on hisenthusiasm to some

of his friends, butthey were too

daunted by the task


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As he lay on his bed in his hospitalroom, with the sunlight

streaming through the windows,a gentle breeze blew the flimsywhite curtains apart and he was

able to see the sky and the topsof the trees outside for just amoment.


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It seemed that there was a messagefor him not to give up. Suddenlyan idea hit him. All he could dowas move one finger and hedecided to make the best use of

it. By moving this, he slowlydeveloped a code ofcommunication with his wife.


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He touched his wife's arm withthat finger, indicating to her

that he wanted her to call theengineers again. Then heused the same method of

tapping her arm to tell theengineers what to do. Itseemed foolish but the project

was under way again.


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For 13 years Washington

tapped out hisinstructions with hisfinger on his wife's arm,until the bridge wasfinally completed.


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Today the spectacularBrooklyn Bridge stands inall its glory as a tribute tothe triumph of one man's

indomitable spirit and hisdetermination not to be

defeated by circumstances.


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It is also a tribute to the

engineers and their teamwork, and to their faithin a man who wasconsidered mad by halfthe world.


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It stands too as a tangiblemonument to the love and

devotion of his wife whofor 13 long years patiently

decoded the messages ofher husbandand told theengineers what to do.


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Perhaps this is one of thebest examples of anever-say-die attitudethat overcomes a terrible

physical handicap andachieves an impossible

goal.


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Often when we faceobstacles in our day-to-day life, ourhurdles seem very

small in comparisonto what many others

have to face.


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The Brooklyn Bridgeshows us that dreams

that seem impossiblecan be realised with

determination andpersistence, no matterwhat the odds are.


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Even the most

distant dreamcan be realized

withdetermination

and persistence.


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PERSIST.

Persistence Story

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