Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach each morning before he began his work. One day, he noticed that during the night many seashells and starfish had washed upon the shore. Thoroughly enjoying the morning sun and cool sea air, the man strolled for a mile along the sand.
|
Far off in the distance, he saw a small figure dancing. The man was joyous that someone was celebrating life in such a grand and uninhibited manner. As he drew closer, however, it became apparent that perhaps the figure was not dancing, but perhaps repeatedly performing some ritual.
|
Approaching the small figure, the man noticed that it was a child. The boy was methodically picking up starfish from the shore and tossing them back into the surf. The man paused for a moment, puzzled, then asked, "Young man, why are you throwing those starfish?"
|
"The sun is up and the tide is going out." he replied. "If I leave them, the sun will dry them, and they will die. So I'm throwing them back into the ocean because I want them to live."
|
The man was thoughtful for a moment, impressed with the child's thoughtfulness. Then he motioned up and down the miles and miles of beach and said, "There must be millions and millions of starfish along here! How can you possibly expect to make a difference?"
|
The young boy pondered the man's words for a moment, then slowly leaned over, reached down, and carefully picked up another starfish from the sand. Pulling back, he arched the starfish into the surf.
|
He turned to the man and smiled. "You may be right" he said, "but I made a difference for that one!"
|
His response surprised the man. He was upset. He 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 the young man haunted him. He tried to ignore it, but the vision persisted. Finally, late in the afternoon, he realized that he the poet, had missed out on the essential nature of the young man's actions. The young man was choosing not to be just an observer in the universe; but to act and make a difference. He was embarrassed.
|
That night he went to bed troubled. When the morning came, he awoke knowing that he had to do something. So he got up, put on his clothes, went to the beach and found the young man. "I get it!" he cried, as he rushed to join the boy in the morning sun- two small figures dancing in the sand.
(Inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley)  |
The young man's actions represent something that is special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. If we can, like that young man, become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our vision the power to shape our future and others with it.
|
| And that is your challenge and mine. We must each find our starfish. And we must choose to shape the future; and in doing so...... we will make a difference. |