Currently in Movies: Titanic: The Story of us all?

Ted Klassen

The phenomenal success of the movie Titanic has surprised everyone. After all, everyone knows how the movie ends; the ship sinks. So why is this "disaster movie" so popular? Some have speculated that it is because of the infatuation of young girls with the movie's male star, Leonardo Dicaprio, who plays the part of Jack in the "on board" teenage romance with Rose (Kate Winslet).

I would like to suggest that an additional reason for the movie's success with all age groups is the intertwined themes of love and death. Yes, we all know the Titanic sinks in the end, but until that happens the question remains: Who will love whom? Will Rose love Jack? Will their love last, or will the sinking of the Titanic end their love?

It is in this way that the story of the Titanic becomes the story of us all. We all know how our individual stories end; we all die. But until that happens, the question we all have to answer is: Whom or what are we going to love the most? The answer of the movie is to find "someone" to love. However, the sinking of the Titanic ultimately ends Jack's life and his love for Rose. Our hearts rebel and say this isn't fair, so the movie adds a "heavenly ending" with Jack kissing Rose in the afterlife.

Why that kind of ending? I believe it is because, as the Bible says, we all have "eternity in our hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Deep down, we all believe we are unsinkable, just like the Titanic was supposed to be. We just have to find the right person to love, and a "heavenly ending" will be ours. We want the kind of love the Bible talks about when it says, "Love is as strong as death. . . . It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away" (Song of Songs 8:6-7).

It is these yearnings in our hearts that Jesus Christ came to fill. Jesus proved He is the person we should love more than anyone by dying on the cross to forgive the sins that make us sink and die. Jesus then rose from the dead so He could come to each one of us and say: "Listen to Me, and I will give you eternal life that is full of love for others because I am in you and promise to be with you forever." That beats anything Jack could offer Rose. And it is the only way the story of the Titanic won't be the story of your life and mine. So whom are you going to love the most?

TED KLASSEN IS PASTOR OF HYDE CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH IN PORT COQUITLAM, B.C.

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