Making A Difference

I'm sitting here bawling my eyes out watching my DVR'd American Idol. Yes. American Idol. The show all about kooks singing off key, belittling poor performances and weird fashion trends. So why am I bawling my eyes out? Because of Annie Lennox, darn her. Did you see her segment? If not, here it is.

It breaks a mother's heart. If something (God forbid) were to happen to Shane and myself, I pray someone would care for our children. That they would not languish. I feel so selfish. There are so many in need. Where do you start? How do you start? I often have an overwhelming feeling of not being able to make a difference. There are so many.

It is during those down times when I am reminded that I am not called to save everyone, simply to do as much as I can. And while I can't save everyone; the difference I make to one makes all the difference.

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, 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 man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, 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 young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18