Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once said: “The little things are infinitely the most important.”
A significant advantage of travel is experiencing books come alive. On our trip to Lakshwadeep in 2018, I witnessed the strength of Tugboats that I had only read about.
Tugboats1 are small boats designed to guide large ships and manoeuvre them towards the port by pulling and pushing the vessels in position.2 Their double-powered engines create huge torque to run the propellers and generate massive pulling power.
Large ships can sail in deep waters but struggle in the shallow, unable to stop, slow down or turn as the water is insufficient to facilitate quick movement of the rudders.
At this point the tugboat, small, potent and just enough swirls into action, powerfully taking control.
Often many of us may feel like the small tugboat; always pushing or pulling a greater cause.
What crosses our minds in those times? Do we feel unworthy or not enough?
Away from the depths of the sea, saturated in shallow waters, are we tugboats?
Tugboats may look unassuming but are confident of their assignment. While ships set sail into the high seas, remember the tugboats wait their turn to manoeuvre them into their designated berths at ports. Without them, the ships cannot anchor, break the momentum, or move out from the shallow.
The insignificant is often the most impactful in moving the world around.
16 comments:
Very true, Smita. Liked what you wrote.
Interesting read. And very apt. Life is tugging and pulling and pushing things around as we traverse thru it.
Very insightful and inspiring.
Thought inspiring article. Due to the course of my office work, I had the opportunity of visiting many hotels. Whenever I have visited these 5 star hotel, I have found lobby clean and well maintained floral arrangements look fresh and beautiful. However, housekeeping staff and florist are not visible. They are silent workers may be working at odd time when guests are not visiting the lobby somewhat similar to the " tugboats"
Wonderful and insightful as usual. It is a privilege to be a tugboat in the land of giants.
So true..well written Smitadi
Thank you for sending me this beautiful msg which is so very true & inspiring. Looking forward for many more from you. God bless you 🙏
A tugboat's role can never be undermined if a ship wants to enter a port.Happy to be a 'tugboat' to help a larger cause.We may not see the end result,but the fact that we made a difference in someone's life makes me happy.
Nice analogy!
Great article Smita.Truly encouraging. Looking forward to more articles. Blessings always my Darling♥️🥰
Good you brought the importance of tugs in Maritime operations
Very well written
Makes one think!
Insightful. Tugboats are there throughout life. They are small , even invisible. They add to the maxim of ‘ larger meaning of smaller things ‘
We have them at home - domestic helpers. A day without them could be mayhem. Small but significant to run the engine of life. We have them in the office - the house keepers and the chai boy who become conspicuous when they are absent. Our spectacles, smart phones , pill boxes , walking things are all tugboats of significance.
Keep writing. Small is beautiful.
Very well articulated and insightful read. I always believe as per Sir John Milton, "they also serve who only stand and wait".... We are all praying to God and waiting our turn in the que awaiting God's mercies. Incidentally we may be last in the que, but still stand a chance to win His mercies, as long as we love Him and have faith in His Power.
Well written.
Gaurav.
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