Under and Up

In the spring of 1979, the towboat Cahaba was hauling several barges of coal down the flooded Tombigbee River in Alabama , USA . The current was flowing fast as the boat's pilot approached the Demopolis Rooster Bridge .  Due to the river’s strong current and high waters, it was too dangerous to try to bring the barges through the bridge span.  So, the crew released the coal barges from the towboat with the intention of picking them up on the other side of the bridge.  After releasing the barges, the pilot, Captain Jimmie Wilkerson, managed to back the vessel upriver in order to navigate over to the other side of the bridge where the channel span was located.  However, the boat moved slightly off line and the current swung the boat sideways, slamming it into the bridge. The current was so strong that it forced the boat down under the water.

To the astonishment of onlookers, the towboat passed under the water, under the bridge, and popped up, upright, with the engines still going and the pilot at the wheel (and holding on with all of his might), on the other side!

Why did it come back to the surface in an upright position? Because Warrior Gulf Navigation of Mobile, AL, the owner of the Cahaba , ballasted all of their vessels with three to four feet of cement in the bottom of their hulls.  As Captain Michael L. Smith explains, “the boat was like a little yellow rubber duckie, and came back up like 
a duckie oughta do.” *

The incident of the Cahaba is a vivid reminder that life can often go horribly wrong, but if we have the right "ballast," we can get through it and emerge UPRIGHT on the other side.

SIN is what ultimately destroys our “ships,” our lives (Romans 6:23; James 1:14-15).  But God seeks to equip us with a “ballast”  that will save us from the "current" of sin.  The Ballast is His Son, Jesus, who died on the cross so that we might have forgiveness of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).   He will save those who will believe in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  

He will continue to carry us to "safe harbor" if we will allow Him to also be our Pilot (1 John 1:7).

The water is rising.... the current is strong......  But, if you will seek security in the Ballast, He will lead you home!

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

*  Information and photos of the amazing towboat incident may be found at  www.gcfl.net/stuff/tugboat/

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