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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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