OUR INSPIRATIONAL STORY
Once upon a time, there was a wise writer who went to the ocean for inspiration. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving gracefully like a dancer. He smiled to think someone would dance that day. he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw a young man who wasn't dancing at all. He was reaching down to the sand, picking some thing up and very gently tossing it into the ocean. As he got closer, he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
The wise man said, "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing the starfish back into the ocean?" The young man responded, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." "But young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" said the wise man in astonishment. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves. "It made a difference for that one." he said. His response surprised the writer. He was upset! He didn't know how to reply. So instead, he turned away and walked back to the cottage to begin his work. All day long as he wrote, the image of that young man haunted him. He tried to ignore it, but the vision persisted. Finally, late in the afternoon he realized that he the scientist, the poet, ha missed out on the essential nature of the young man's actions. He realized what the young man was doing was choosing not to be the observer in the universe, but to make difference! He was embarrassed.
That night, the wise man went to the bed troubled. When the morning came, he awoke knowing that he had to do something! So he put on his clothes, went to the beach and found the young man. With him, the writer spent the rest of the morning throwing starfish carefully back into the ocean.
That young man's actions represent something special present in each and everyone of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. We can, like that young man, become aware of that gift. Through the strength of our vision, we have the power to shape the future.
Inspired from a writer named, Joel A. Barker.
