Boy throwing beached starfish into the receding surf, one at a time.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm saving starfish"
But there are hundreds of them; you never make a difference it doesn't matter
Throwing one more in...
"it mattered to that one!
I learned from my corporate partners to "think big." And it's true tht you can solve big problems and grab big opportunites if you think big and don't get overwhelmed. But I'd like to encurage you with this story to tinks small.
The Star Thrower Story by Joel Barker
http://www.starthrower.com/star_thrower_story_script.htm
There's a story I would like to share with you. It was inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley. Eiseley was a very special person because he combined the best of two cultures. He was a scientist and a poet. And from those two perspectives he wrote insightfully and beautifully about the world and our role in it.
Once upon a time, there was a wise man, much like Eiseley himself, 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 into the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked, Why are you throwing starfish into 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. "It made a difference for that one!"
His response surprised the man. He was upset. He didn't know how to reply. So instead, he turned away and walked back to the cottage to begin his writings.
All day long as he wrote, the image of the young man haunted him. He tried to ignore it, but the vision persisted. Finally, late in the afternoon he realized that he the scientist, he the poet, had missed out on the essential nature of the young man's actions. Because he realized that what the young man was doing was choosing not to be an observer in the universe and make a difference. He was embarrassed.
That night he went to bed troubled. When the morning came he awoke knowing that he had to do something. So he got up, put on his clothes, went to the beach and found the young man. And with him he spent the rest of the morning throwing starfish into the ocean. You see, what that young man's actions represent is something that is special in each and everyone of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can, like that young man, become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our vision the power to shape the future.
And that is your challenge. And that is my challenge. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, I have no question that the 21st century is going to be a wonderful place.
Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_Thrower
"The Star Thrower" (or "starfish story") is part of a sixteen page essay of the same name by Loren Eiseley (1907–1977). It was published in 1969 in The Unexpected Universe. The Star Thrower is also the title of a 1978 anthology of Eiseley's works (including the essay) which he completed shortly before his death.
What I take from this story is not only the power of make a difference one at a time, but also the power of getting started, no mater how small. "The secret of success is getting started." Like the song, "it only takes a spark to get the fire going"[1]
Compare the City Year take on the story, here:
http://www.cityyear.org/uploadedFiles/CityYear_FoundingStories(1).pdf#starfishstory
For their version, the little girl throwing back the starfish inspires the wise man and then the whole town to join her tossing back the starfish:
Here's the City Year moral:
"Perseverance against great odds and against the criticism of others is the very hallmark of value-based
idealism, as is refusing to accept failure. The understanding that we hold in our hands the power to change
a life, a mind, or a circumstance today – right now – is a powerful insight and motivator. At the same time,
idealistic acts, even highly symbolic ones, have the power to inspire others to act, and sometimes in
numbers significant enough to make a major or even complete impact on the problem at hand. Perhaps
most inspiring of all is to witness the idealistic power of children and young people in action. The idealism
of youth is a powerful force for leading change in the world. Often it is our youth who put into action
values that we have instilled in them – but have failed to act on ourselves. The world, therefore, depends
on the idealism of youth to lead the way."
[1] http://www.peaceinspire.com/2007/12/08/pass-it-on-2/
Pass It On Song Lyrics
It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.
What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding;
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That’s how it is with God’s love;
Once you’ve experienced it, you want to sing
“It’s fresh like spring”; you want to pass it on.
I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I’ve found.
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound.
I’ll shout it from the mountain top – PRAISE GOD
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.
I’ll shout it from the mountain top – PRAISE GOD
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on. |