I would like to share a story with you. It is called
“The Star Thrower”, written by Loren Eiseley
Once upon a time, there was a wise man, who used to go to the ocean to do his writings. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the shore. he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone that would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got close, he saw a young man who wasn’t dancing, but instead was reaching down to the shore, picking up something, and very gently throwing it into the ocean
As he got closer, he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”
The wise man asked, “Why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”
“The sun is up and the tide is going out, and if I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
“But young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach with starfish all along it? You can’t possibly make a difference.”
The young man listened politely, bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea past the break waves.
“It made a difference for that one.”
His response surprised the man. He was upset and didn’t know how to reply. So instead, he turned away and walked back to the cottage to begin his writings.
All day long, as he wrote, the image of that young man haunted him. He tried to ignore it, but the vision persisted. Finally, late in the afternoon, he decided that he had missed the essential nature of the young man’s actions. He just then realized that the young man was choosing not to be an observer, but rather an actor in the universe, and to make a difference. He was embarrassed.
That night he went to bed troubled. When morning came, he awoke and knew he had to do something. So he got up, put on his clothes, went to the beach, and found the young man. He spent the rest of the morning throwing starfish into the ocean.
Just like this young man, each one of us can make an impact. Even if we only help one person we have made a difference.
Don’t be an observer.
Be and actor!
Amy is a Christian mother of three amazing adults, a small business owner, and the director of student services for Essential Learning Institute. Her passion is helping children who are struggling to learn, find and reach their potential. Her daily motto is, “Find the joy in your moments”
