It made a difference for that one...

The Starfish Story

adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)

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 before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

.....the more I learn about Africa (and this world in general) - the more I was feeling like the "wise" old man. How can helping ONE make a difference??? During worship time at church this morning God reminded me of the story above - that it's worth ALL my time, my money, and my energy to make a difference in the life of even one! Ellie's life will FOREVER be changed because we took the time to CARE!!! to extend ourselves! to spend a little less and save a little more! and our lives will be forever changed! my prayer is that as a family we'll care far less about the temporal and much more about the eternal....that we'll see the world more and more through God's eyes....and that the use of our time, talents, and treasure will be a direct reflection of that!!! Ellie - my life has ALREADY been FOREVER changed by you!!

I was reading more about Katie Davis and AMAZIMA (see button on the right). Her work in Uganda is nothing short of miraculous!!! God is using that woman in AMAZING ways!!! For just $300 a year you can send a child to school, give them 2 meals a day, and a trip to the doctor & the dentist! As we all know without an education the downward spiral continues - yet Katie is reminding ME that I can make the difference in the life of one child - and that child's children - and that child's children - and so on for ETERNITY!!! I know I'm starting to sound like a commercial here - but Africa is under my skin & I can't stop thinking about it!!! PLEASE take a moment and visit the AMAZIMA site! You won't be the same!!!