Have you ever seen a barge gliding down the Verdigris and Arkansas River Channel? That barge and its cargo could be headed to any port in the world. Located fifteen miles east of downtown Tulsa, the Port of Catoosa is the most inland seaport in all the United States. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas Navigation System, all 445 miles of it, allows cargo to travel to the Mississippi River and on to the Port of New Orleans. Cargo can also go north on the Mississippi to St Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago and even on to Pittsburg. A single barge can carry the equivalent load of 60 semi-trailer trucks, or 15 railroad cars. The power to drive the barges is provided by tow boats.
Dorothy and I once attended the christening of a brand-new tow boat at the Port of Catoosa. The boat was named in honor of former Tulsa Mayor James M. Hewgley, Jr. We were invited to this event because Dorothy’s office was next door to Mayor Hewgley’s in the Philtower Building downtown. It was at the christening that I learned there was a difference between a tugboat and a towboat.
To me, tug and tow seemed to be interchangeable terms. As a kid, I always heard about tugboats guiding big ships and tow trucks pulling stuff, never about towboats. To me, pulling a boat in the water with ropes and chains seems very similar to towing a boat behind a truck. But in the practical world of navigation, these boats have different designs and different roles. A tugboat has a pointed bow, works in harbors and open water, and pulls and pushes large ships to safely in a harbor. A towboat has a flat bow, works in rivers, and pushes and guides barges from the back. A barge that is pushed is easier to control and guide through winding rivers than if it were pulled or tugged. Both kinds of boats have the same purpose—safe passage. Sometimes some of us need a push; others may need a pull. That is one more reason God provides the Holy Spirit—to help navigate us through the week.
Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Find safe passage. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.
Share this webpage:
