Pride sank the Titanic; What might it be doing to your life?

James Cameron director of the highly acclaimed Titanic movie that garnered 11 academy awards and remains to this day the highest grossing movie ever described the Titanic story,

“It could not have been written better . . . the juxtaposition of rich and poor, the gender roles played out unto death (women first), the stoicism and nobility of a bygone age, the magnificence of the great ship matched in scale only by the folly of the men who drove her hell-bent through the darkness. And above all the lesson: that life is uncertain, the future unknowable . . . the unthinkable possible”

The Titanic was the largest and most luxurious ship afloat when she sunk on April 15, 1912. No expense was spared. Opulent state rooms, luxurious dining rooms, smoking rooms, ornate ceilings, candelabras, elegant grand staircase, elevators, libraries, a swimming pool, a Turkish bath, a gymnasium, a squash court, she even boasted a small orchestra.

It wasn’t just an iceberg that sunk the Titanic in 2 hours and 40 minutes and claimed over 1500 lives. No, it was an attitude; arrogance, pride.

How else can you explain that a ship with more than 2200 passengers was only fitted with life boats for 1200? How else can you explain a ship this size with over 2,000 people sailing in a state of unpreparedness? What else explains that the equipment aboard the ship was not tested, life saving devices were missing, binoculars were not at lookout stations? That a deck hand actually said, “God himself could not sink this ship.”

Invulnerability. Over confidence in the material, opulent, technologically superior. Funny, isn’t it man is always awed by his, her inventions. We seem to be bent on proving ourselves all powerful, almighty and divine. We think we are unsinkable.

The Titanic suffered it’s demise because of the stowaway; pride.

Pride is the spiritual cancer of man. The tendency to be haughty and arrogant about one’s abilities. Pride is confidence on meth, excessive. When man elevates himself and loses all sense of reality, all sense of perspective.

Basic engineering parameters were necessary for the Titanic to float, when they were exceeded she sank. So to is it in life; there are parameters; spiritual, emotional and relational that if exceeded tank relationships and spiritual and emotional health

Humility it’s the answer to the stowaway pride. It’s a lifeboat.

I’m not certain of everything but these 2 things I am positive of ; You’re not God and neither am I. (neither was the designer of the Titanic, Facebook, I-phone, Google maps etc)

So perhaps today is a good day to check and see if pride is on board and if so how is it affecting your journey? Perhaps it’s time to jump in the lifeboat of humility?

Size does not equal security.

Possessions do not equal worth.

Knowledge is not wisdom.

Pride often goes before the fall. What might it be doing to your life and mine?

Pam Hoelzle

Seattle Business Coach

425 218 5864