|
 |
|
|
| The old man, weathered by
life and hardened by age, watched with interest as a boy ran along the
sea shore, picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The
shore-line was covered with thousands of starfish—stranded to die on
the hot sands. The seemingly tireless energy of the boy awakened the
curiosity of the old man’s otherwise untouchable spirit. The boy came
closer to the old man, continuing his persistent rescue mission.
Finally, close enough to be heard, the old man spoke: "What does it
matter, son? There are thousands more you will never save." The
boy, without hesitation, knelt to pick up another starfish, and tossing
it into the sea, responded, "Well, it matters to this one."
There is something wonderful in the human heart that compels us to comb the shores of life in search of stranded starfish. Tossing even one back into the life-giving sea does, indeed, make a difference. We must believe that. There is also that in the human spirit so cynical that we are paralyzed by the size of the task and our success-oriented psyches. Because the job is impossible and the task insurmountable, we choose to do nothing. Or we assume that the world is full of individuals named George who will do something. Exercising the good and exorcising the bad is the crux of our massive crisis. There never seem to be enough spirits willing to spend their time slinging starfish back into the waters of life; but, the lack of available hands is no excuse for avoiding the hunger surrounding us. Not when Jesus Christ walks the shore as our companion. When Jesus asked his disciples about the availability of food for 5,000 followers, he received excuses ranging from the economic to the impossible. But—Jesus was like a "beachcomber on a mission." His "starfish rescue" was made from the minimal gift of five loaves and two small fish. The point is obvious: in the hands of Jesus there is a difference. Those who give their gifts for his purpose make difference, no matter how small the gift. Nothing we do for Jesus is ever done in vain. Jesus did not say, "Satisfy my sheep," or even, "Protect my sheep." He instructed us to feed them. In my imagination I have always pictured the lad whose lunch was multiplied by the Master, running home and bursting through the door shouting, "Hey, Mom! Guess what me and Jesus did today!" Such is the spirit of those who know that it does, for certain, "matter to this one." Saving starfish or feeding Christ’s sheep—it is what we must do. It does matter. —Daniel John Yeary was a pastor in Coral Gables, Florida when he wrote this. He is now retired in Central Texas. The illustration was inspired by "The Star Thrower," by Loren Eiseley. This parable was originally published in Seeds Magazine, Volume 14, Number 1, January 1992. |
IT
MATTERS
by Anonymous
As
I walked along the seashore,
This young boy greeted me.
He was tossing stranded starfish
Back to the deep blue sea.
I
said, "Tell me why you bother.
Why waste your time this way?
There's a million stranded
starfish.
Does it matter, anyway?"
And
he said, "It matters to this one.
It deserves a chance to grow.
It matters to this one.
I can't save them all, I know.
But
it matters to this one
I'll return it to the sea.
It matters to this one
And it matters to me."
I
walked into the classroom.
The teacher greeted me.
She was helping Johnny study.
He was struggling I could see.
I
said, "Tell me why you bother.
Why waste your time this way?
Johnny's only one of millions,
Does it matter, anyway?"
And
she said, "It matters to this one.
He deserves a chance to grow.
It matters to this one.
I can't save them all, I know.
But
it matters to this one.
I'll help him be what he can be.
It matters to this one
And it matters to me."
I
walked through the capitol.
Some parents greeted me.
They were helping legislators
Remember children in all they do
and see.
I
said, "Tell me why you bother.
Why waste your time this way?
Your issue is one in millions.
Does it matter anyway?"
And
they said, "It matters with this one.
Children deserve a chance to grow.
It matters with this one.
There are other causes, we know.
But
it matters with this one.
We must help children be all they
can be.
Because it matters to everyone
What our future turns out to be.