I don’t know — maybe I’m one of the only people on the planet who hadn’t heard some version of the story of “The Star Thrower” (or The Starfish Story). But when I first read it, I was so moved. The message is so simple, yet deeply convicting. The only real way I can’t make a difference is by standing on the sidelines and never trying.
The Starfish Story
An old man was walking along the beach one morning,where a storm the night before had washed thousands of starfish ashore. Further down the beach, he saw a young woman who appeared to be dancing. As he got closer, he realized she wasn’t dancing at all — she was methodically, almost rhythmically, stooping to pick up one starfish after another and gently tossing them back into the ocean.
“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” he asked.
She replied, “Because the sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them further in, they’ll die.”
“But, young lady,” the man said, “don’t you see there are miles and miles of beach, and thousands of starfish along it? You can’t possibly save them all. You could work all day and not make any difference at all!”
The young woman listened politely, then bent down, picked up another starfish, and tossed it into the sea.
“It made a difference to that one,” she said, smiling.
Convicted in his heart, the old man stooped slowly, picked up a starfish, and tossed it into the ocean,
saying: “It made a difference to this one, too!”
Even in the most overwhelming circumstances, I need to remember — I can make a difference, even if it’s only for one. And when it feels like all is lost, I want to choose to see the problem in the light of hope, not my hope in the shadow of the problem.
And you never know — your actions might just inspire someone else to do the same.
