Titanic Day in a Pandemic

Last updated on: April 14, 2020 at 9:31 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

Titanic Day in a Pandemic 2020-04-14T09:31:44-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Prudence is the virtue needed in a crisis. So old stories teach us. The crisis has come and the old tales should be recollected.

Each year our family has recollected the sinking of the great liner RMS Titanic. I am not sure why, only that the story moves us and encourages us to be better people. A story like that can save us if we come to understand it.

However one begins the story of the good ship, the iceberg comes. Mistakes were made. There was heroism, of course, and lessons to be learned. People behaved well, some abominably. Snobbery worked deadly evil as classism often does: so many third class lives were lost that need not have been.

In the crisis, when all decisions counted and history books were recording actions, people showed themselves. The pressure revealed character. Some unexpectedly rose to the occasion, like a not-always-noble rich man who managed to pass on saving his own life. Some like Charles Lightoller were the heroes they had been before that time and would be again. Lightoller had survived one wreck already and would, as an old man, rescue British troops at Dunkirk. Others, one thinks of Bruce Ismay, had a night they wished to forget for the rest of their days.

The grinding spread of the consequences of the pandemic and American actions to stop it are wearing even for those not sick or on the medical front lines. For those curing our sick, burying our dead, delivering our food, these are harrowing times. We are in a historic crisis. For some, training and character provide them the courage and strength they need. Captain Smith is said to have ordered his crew to “be British” and if he did, Lightoller was a living demonstration.

The rest of us, like most of the crew and passengers of the great liner, are not so blessed. We could rise to the occasion or we could panic, play the fool, or simply be a cad. We could be the functionary at the White Star Line that sent band members’ families a bill for uniforms the band did not return. A different decision easily could have been made, but thoughtless, mindless rule following posted the bill.

Let us consider our words on social media in the light of the tens of thousands who have lost loved ones unexpectedly. Perhaps we could act in solidarity, best we can in words and deeds, with the medical professionals we know. Can we think of the postal employee or the UPS guy who gets our mail and packages to us? What of the grocery clerk? If history is not watching our millions of stories, the nation is bigger than even Titanic, than our children are. Our children’s children may ask about this time as I asked my grandparents about the Depression and the War.

What did we do? Did we binge on Netflix? Drink and eat too much? Or did we pray, do our duty, work as hard as we could even when nobody was watching. Did we pray for our leaders, of both parties, and find some way to help? As millions lose their jobs, perhaps even us, do we panic as if money was ever our salvation or we keep going?

There is nothing wrong with tears, mourning when time to mourn, but next we do what we can. If we are not Charles Lightoller, then we can at least follow him, emulate his courage (even if this is unnatural to us). We can measure our words, saying less, doing more. This is our moment: a crisis has come.

What will we do?

In a crisis the great people will achieve greatness, they will be courageous and some history will recollect. Prudence is the chief virtue for the rest of us. Now is the time, in fearful times, for prudence: carefully doing no more or less than what is needful. Find our duty and stick to that duty with charity to all. Prudence does not panic nor stay on the ship foolishly when the time has come to go. Prudence acts until there is no more action to take and then puts hope in God and eternity.

Why not work at loving our neighbor and helping restart the economy best we can?

We can be Christian.

Culture

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

April 13, 2020

We Fight Best We Can, God Help Us

Next Post

April 15, 2020 Jesus and the Church are Here

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul instructed Titus that the grace of God teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »