The story is told like this:
A businessman and his 2ife were busy to the point of exhaustion. They were committed to each other, their church, their work, and their friends. Needing a break, they escaped for a few days of relaxation at an oceanfront hotel. One night a violent storm lashed the beach and sent massive breakers thundering against the shore. The man lay in his bed listening and thinking about his own story life of never-ending demands and pressure.
The wind finally died down, and shortly before the daybreak, the man slipped out of bed and took a walk along the beach to see what damage had been done. As he strolled, he saw that the beach was covered with starfish that had been thrown ashore and helplessly stranded by the great waves. Once the morning sun burned through the clouds, the starfish would dry out and die.
Suddenly the man saw an interesting sight. A young boy who had also noticed the plight of the starfish was picking them up, one at a time, and flinging them back into the ocean.
"Why are you doing that?" the man asked the lad as he got close enough to be heard. "Can't you see that one person will never make a difference- you'll never be able to get all those starfish back in the water. There are too many of them."
"Yes, that's true," the boy sighed as he bent over and picked up another and tossed it back into the water. Then he watched it sink, he looked at the man, and smiled, and said, "But it sure made a difference to that one!"
Denis Waitley, Seeds of Greatness
The story makes one wonder if the man bent over, picked up a starfish, and flung it back into the water? And if maybe others who notice what they were doing came to help.
As I sit here in my office reflecting on this story, I can't help but be taken back to some of the stories of Jesus and "some Starfish " he took the time to bend over and cast them back in the water so they may live another day changed by Jesus love and compassion. What about the story of the lady at the well (John 4:1-42) or the story of the widow at Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Or how about the story of the man born blind (John 9:1-41) or the story of the Centurion servant (Luke 7:1-10). I know I could suggest many other stories from God's word where we read about Jesus saving "starfish," but for lack of space, I'll let you fill-in the remainder of the list yourself.
Are we like the businessman, a keen observer or are we akin to the young boy who saw that he could make a difference even if it were not for all of the starfish? Have you saved any "Starfish" in your daily walk recently? Like Jesus, you must want to participate and not be Just another observer.
David Blevins is the preacher at church of Christ, 1718 Franklin Avenue in Canon City. Phone (719) 275-9696, email canoncitycofc@gmail.com, website www.canoncitychurchofchrist.com.