In October of 1871, fire swept through Chicago with a fury few had ever seen. For two days the flames raged, fueled by dry winds and wooden buildings, leaving more than 17,000 structures in ashes. Hundreds perished, and more than 100,000 were left without homes. The destruction was immense, the loss incalculable.
Yet for decades after, what most people remembered was not the staggering toll of the disaster, but a story about a cow. According to legend, the blaze began when Mrs. Catherine O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in her barn. The tale was colorful and easy to repeat, and soon it found its way into newspapers and classrooms alike. Chicago, it seemed, was not simply the city that burned, but the city burned down by a cow.
The truth is almost certainly different. Historians now believe the O’Learys were unfairly blamed. The actual cause of the fire was never determined. But the legend endured. Catherine O’Leary herself lived under its shadow for the rest of her life, unfairly branded by a myth she could never shake. Chicago rebuilt itself stronger and more modern, yet the story of the cow remained the image most people carried with them.
Isn’t that how it often works with organizations too? If we don’t tell our story clearly and truthfully, someone else will. A rumor, a misconception, a half-truth can become the thing people latch on to. At Radiant, we help ministries and organizations ensure that their story is told well, faithful to their mission, compelling in its clarity and aligned with the truth of Christ. Because in the end, your brand isn’t just about what you say; it’s about what people remember.
