Be The Starfish Difference

It made a difference to that one.

When asked why they became teachers, many teachers say to ‘make a difference’.

It’s not just teachers who can do that though. Everyone can.

The following story is one that has been inspired by Loren Eiseley and is all about making a big difference just by doing something quite small.

It is from the Christian charity the Starfish Alliance. Their mission is to create life changing moments for children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it back into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then smiling a the man, he said… “it made a difference for that one.”

And that is our challenge.

We all have to throw starfish back into the sea.

We can all make a difference.

Click to access Eiseley–StarThrower.pdf