The Legend of the Starfish

Dedicated to Sally, a friend I met for the first time just last week. She was kind -- not even knowing me -- and it made a difference.

Perhaps you have heard The Legend of the Starfish before. It is always worth hearing again.

According to the Legend, a man walked along the seashore. With each step he encountered starfish stranded on the beach by the outgoing tide. The starfish were dying in the sun.

The man bent down, picked up a starfish, and returned it to the surf and to life. Then he did the same with another starfish, and then another, and another and another. The man was determined.

Another beach comber came his way and was perplexed by what the man casting the starfish was doing. "Sir," he inquired. "What are you doing?"

The man casting the starfish explained the plight of these stranded creatures. He went on to explain that he would walk the length of the beach and cast his little friends to a fresh start in life.

"But sir," the newfound companion objected again. "This beach is miles long and there are countless starfish stranded here. It will hardly make a difference at all!"

With that the man casting starfish bent down, picked up a starfish, and threw it into the surf. "It made a differenc to that one," he said.

The world can be a cynicle and sarcastic place. People can object to even the kindest of gestures and attempts of another person. We can conclude that our modest and feable attempts at kindness do not make a difference.

Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't second guess the actions that are cast from your heart of love. And don't let the cynical and sarcastic steal your joy, either. Smile. Love. And keep making a difference.

• Give an extra tip to the waitress you have learned is a single mother of two.
• Walk up to children at church before and after the servcie and ask about their school, or their sports, or the things they enjoy. You don't have to know them to be kind.
• Always take extra money with you when you go shoppoing and always put it in the Salvation Army bucket -- it does make a difference!
• Seek out the food shelters and shelters for the homeless and hungry of your community and donate regularly. Whenever you buy groceries for yourself make it a practice of getting exra for the needy.
• Remember when gas was over $3 a gallon? Now it is almost half that. The next time you fill up at the gas station, consider a portion or all of your savings to be given to someone else in need.
• Resist and reject every temptation of "being negative" that surfaces in your heart. Being critical is NOT the same as critical thinking.
• Adopt a family -- a newly married couple; a young family with a new baby; an elderly couple you know. How can you be a blessing today? Stop by to visit. Keep them in your prayers. Inquire of them -- and listen!
• Say something kind -- always! Get up in the morning with something kind to say about others. Not mere flattery or something superficial. But genuinely kind things to say.
• Show interest in people. Don't be easily bothered by others. Don't allow impatience and disappointment to steal your joy. People are people. You, on the other hand, climb mountains. You blaze the trail. You are strong. You bear the weaknesses of the weak and you make a differnce. cf. Galatians 6:1-2

You make a huge difference! You make a difference in my life. I appreciate you spending this time with me here today...this coffee in hand....your model....your example....your roping up with me. You make my load lighter. You make my trail easier. You make the summit seem a little closer.

God bless you richly. You make a difference to me. I love you very much.

Jeff on the mountains.