Throwing Starfish

I read a story on another web site that really caught my attention. The story is called "Throwing Starfish". You will see the story below, but what struck me about it was how much it applies to our work in Uganda.

When our team was there, it was hard to see the number of children who weren't sponsored, or receiving medical care, or eating a meal, or had shoes, or - well, you get the point. We had to reconcile ourselves to the fact that we can only help those we can, but we will strive to help - one more! Each additional child helped is one more that will eat, receive medical treatment, get an education, feel loved and have a better hope for the future.

This is not my story, though I have done a little editing and added the last part to make our point - that it isn't just about the mission team, or even Canby Christian Church - it is about doing the work Christ calls us to do, one child at a time and bringing others alongside to join in the work.

So, without further ado, here is the story:

The Starfish Story

An old man had a habit of taking his walks on the beach. 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 child, and that what she was doing was not dancing at all. The child was reaching down to the sand, 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 child paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

To this, the child replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I do not throw them in, they will die!”

Upon hearing this, the man commented, “But, young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference!”

At this, the child bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean past the breaking waves. As it splashed into the water, she said, “It made a difference for that one.”

The old man looked at the young girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Without a word, he walked a few steps down the beach, picked up a starfish and threw it back in the ocean. “That is one more!!!” he excitedly told the girl. As they continued their work down the beach together, others saw them and joined in their work to save "one more" starfish.