Throwing Starfish: Volunteers

The Starfish Thrower

Once upon a time there was a 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 an

older man and the man

wasn't dancing.

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 older man paused,

looked up and replied,

"Throwing starfish into the ocean."

The man noticed

there were hundreds of starfish

all washed up on the beach

from a storm the night before.

He watched as the man carefully

continued to pick up the starfish

one by one.

"I guess I should have asked,

‘Why are you throwing starfish

into the ocean?’"

"The sun is up

and the tide is going out.

If I don't throw them in

they'll die."

"But don't you realize

there are miles and miles of beach

and starfish all along it.

You can't possibly make a difference!"

The older man listened politely.

He bent down, picked up another starfish

He looked at the starfish

as he prepared to

throw it into the ocean,

past the breaking waves and said –

"I will make a difference to this one!"