The Titanic was the massive cruise ship that sank in 1912 on its first voyage from England to New York. 1,500 people died in that tragic disaster.

For many years, people thought the sinking of the great ship was due to a giant gash in the side caused by hitting that huge iceberg.

But scientists now say that six relatively small, narrow slits sank the Titanic, not one big gash. Small damage below the waterline and invisible to most people can sink a huge ship.

In the same way, small things (as we deem them to be) can damage our lives, our relationships and our reputations.

Let’s not overlook the “little things” in our lives like destructive habits and secret sins. They can cause great damage and destroy us.

Look in the Mirror

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry is not very clean,” she said. “She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her. The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

Isn’t this the way it is with our lives? What we see when we look at others depends on how clean the window is through which we look.

Jesus said it this way: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, ESV)

Let’s guard against judging others and take a look in the mirror. God may want us to do something about what we see.