Like the Titanic or Jesus?

During our recent trip through Canada, we visited the Titanic Cemetery aka Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a somber reminder of the 1912 disaster that claimed 1,513 lives. The sight of children’s tombstones was particularly heartrending, realizing the immense loss endured.

James Cameron, the director of the movie, “Titanic”, once described the Titanic as a metaphor for life, suggesting that we’re all aboard our own version of the ship. Despite being deemed “unsinkable” due to its advanced design featuring sixteen watertight compartments, the Titanic’s fate was sealed by a collision with an iceberg that breached five of those compartments.

That tragic misconception provides a vital lesson about integrity and the dangers of compartmentalizing our lives. Like the Titanic, we often assume we can isolate parts of our lives without affecting the whole. Yet, just as damage to one compartment doomed the entire ship, inconsistencies in one area of our life can impact everything else. That’s why living a life of integrity is crucial.

It starts with us modeling integrity for our children — and even others, to live a life of integrity. Typically, we use the word, misbehaving, when it comes to the way our children act up. But that’s them, what about us? People watch you and me. Do we behave with honor and integrity?

Jesus was lauded for his integrity. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” (Matthew 22:16).

“To be like Jesus. To be like Jesus. All I ask – is to be like Him. All through life’s journeys – from earth to glory – all I ask is to be like Him.” (Old song that comes to my mind as I write this blog. That is my greatest desire!)

So how do I maintain a life of being like Jesus? I don’t want a Titanic-style disaster in my life. I purpose to ensure “my ship” is rock-solid, uncompromising, and fail-proof because of my integrity. It’s a daily work-out – but that work-out is worth it!

Let the Titanic remind us that integrity is not just a moral virtue but a necessary compass in navigating the turbulent waters of life. May we strive to navigate our lives with the whole-hearted devotion and integrity that Jesus modeled.

By living with integrity, we ensure that when icebergs aka challenges arise, we can face them head-on, confident in the knowledge that our ‘ship’ IS fail-proof — holding firm and true no matter the challenges! Bless you, dear friends!