~
THE STARFISH ~
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 he was walking along the shore.
As he looked down the beach, he saw
a human figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think of someone
who would dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster to catch
up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was
a young man and the young man wasn't
dancing,
but instead he was reaching down to
the shore, picking up something
and very gently throwing 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 in
the ocean.
"I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the
ocean?
"The sun is up and the tide is
going out. And 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!"
The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another
starfish and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said
"It
made a difference for that one."
- Unknown
Author |
