The Starfish ~ You Can Make a Difference

If you’ve heard of the Star Thrower (commonly called The Starfish Story) by Loren Eiseley published in 1969 as part of a 16-page essay, you know it’s worth re-visiting every few years. If you aren’t familiar with it, you are in for a treat. Happy Friday to you.

 

The backstory paraphrased:

The story begins with a wise man who went to the ocean to do his writing. He saw, in the distance, a young man who was reaching down to pick up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean.

The writer approached the young man and asked – why was he spending his day throwing starfish back into the water.

 

Here’s the original dialogue from the Star Thrower:

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.”

 

In a time when the problems of our world and our nation seem overwhelmingly massive and beyond the scope of any one individual, know that you – alone – can make a difference.

I fall into the attitude trap of, “What difference do my individual efforts make, anyway?” So I do nothing.

And then, I gloriously remember this Starfish Story by Eiseley.

 

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Thank you. Thank you…for reading my Fun Friday’s inspirational post.

Our third week has ended. Can you believe it? I have so loved writing to you each day.

Whoever you are. Wherever you are….I hope your weekend is restorative and relaxing…..and come back Monday Ready to Read.