The following is one of my favourite stories (author unknown) that never fails to inspire me in sustaining my belief in what I do as a Christ-follower, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to the eyes of others.
While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.
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.”
The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”
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 elderly observer commented, “But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it into the back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”
February 6th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I remembered that I teared when I read this story for the first time as I saw myself as THAT starfish that was saved by Jesus.
Everyone (including you) matters to Him.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Helloo..I think your life story is really quite inspiring. No matter what my stand is on religions right now, just wanna say ‘Keep running for Jesus!’
Cheers
February 6th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Like James quoted the Bible, God intend salvation for all men – that is God’s godwill. But you know like picking starfish – you can only do your best. The thing is there is time for every thing. Force your way through, is no point.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Great story, works well at a spiritual level – but not political! These days is seems that the human race isn’t managing to organize itself in ways that do good for large numbers of people. Our voluntary efforts can make a difference but only to a point. For example, they won’t solve global warming.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I was planning to use this one for my VBS this summer. As I was reading the comments, I just wanted to say that, yes one person can make a difference; in sharing Christ, and in other aspects of life. Just like the older gentleman, people do see what you do and some even try to imitate you. If it’s global warming you are concerned about, then do your part, people will follow.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Sounds like people are focusing on the great man
doing a great job…………I agree………….
We need also remember THE STARFISH………the one someone is helping………..There lies the saved, or helped life: it does make a difference to
him/her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s all keep on helping !!! !!! !
September 7th, 2010 at 4:19 am
this story doesn’t have a thing to do with religion. It has to do only with the idea that one action can make a difference that seems small to the world, but to that starfish it meas the world.
March 3rd, 2011 at 1:16 pm
I feel the same, this summer I decided to collect all the plastic from the beach, put them in a plastic bag and thake them away from the ocean and the beach, I made a difference for the beach Xpuha in Mexico for 15 days.
I will do the same in every beach I will go and only myself would save tones of lifes!!!
July 8th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
I am an active volunteer with an animal rescue group. Sometimes I get discouraged that I am only able to help a few animals, versus the huge numbers of animals that I can’t help. In this story, I am the person picking up the starfish and the starfish are the animals I have rescued. I always feel better after I read it.
August 13th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Guys, I am sorry, I feel you are missing the point. This story is not about God, Jesus, Muhamad, Moshe, Abraham or what you feel, how the story mekes you feel or what kind of person it makes you believe you are. It is about saving the starfish for the sake of the starfish, not yours or your religion.
Forget all, save the starfish, move on. No glory, no speech.
Saludos,
Alessio
October 5th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
[...] Perhaps you’ve heard of it. In essence, it’s about a guy who walks down a beach throwing starfish back into the ocean. Another man asks him why he is bothering. Because “It made a difference to that one”. Read it here. [...]
November 28th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
http://www.changeeverything.ca/blog/catherine_ludgate/it-makes-difference-one-starfish
With a credit to the original author.