The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.
Thich Nhat Hanh
One morning a peaceful elderly man was walking along the beach. A big storm had just passed. The shore was littered with star fish, as far as the eye could see.
In a distance, the man noticed a woman picking the starfish up and throwing them back into the sea.
He approached her and asked, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”
The woman replied. “When the sun gets high, unless I throw them into the water, they will die.”
The man scanned the many miles of beach.
“But there must be tens of thousands of starfish. Sending a few into the water can’t possibly make much of a difference.”
The young woman knelt down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.
And then she smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one.”
The world can at times look like it is only with filled unsolvable problems.
When we feel helpless, we may develop a tendency to think: If there are so many big problems, what’s the point for me to solve only one small problem?
But when we reach that conclusion, we hurt.
Deep in our heart, we yearn to connect with the world. We want to help. We desire to serve. We want to find meaning in what we do.
Look at the starfish around you. Maybe your dear friend who is stressed with life problems and have trouble resting. Or your family who needs comfort after a hard day at work. Or the lost, confused stranger on the street who can use directions.
Each moment is a unique call to make a simple yet meaningful contribution. When you respond to that call, you show the person who receives your gift that someone in the world cares. That, my friend, can mean the world.
What can be more beautiful than your choice to use your time, effort, and abilities for the sake of serving others?
You are not called to throw all the starfish back into the water. Just one — the one in front of you. Imagine the world when we all do the same.