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The most famous maritime disaster of all time was the sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912. Over 1,500 died after the “unsinkable ship” collided with an iceberg. It has become a symbol for large disasters. Although it was not the largest maritime disaster (the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff cost 9,300 lives) people often refer to large disasters as “titanic” mistakes or blunders. Books and movies have kept its memory alive long after the vessel rested on the bottom of the ocean. For much of that time, historians and script writers believed the Titanic sank because of the damage from striking an iceberg. 

That theory has been challenged by an international group of scientists and divers. When investigating the wreckage, they found that the damage was relatively small. Instead of an iceberg sized gash in the hull, they found six relatively narrow slits across six watertight holds.

When a salvage team recovered some of the rivets which pulled away from the hull, they discovered that the rivets were made of low-grade steel. This has led scientists to believe that the Titanic sank, not because of the huge iceberg, but because of the poor quality of the tiny rivets. If the rivets had held, it is probable that the Titanic would not have sunk.

It is hard to believe that the failure of a part as tiny as a rivet could sink a massive ship. But it is often the small things that make the big difference. Failure in our lives often has to do with the small compromises or small omissions that may go unseen to others. Jesus instructs his disciples that time in prayer, worship, giving financially, and offering thanks are not to be done with a big show, but they are the things that make a big difference (Matthew 6). Use this season of Lent to listen for God’s guidance in the small things.

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