Saving starfish….
There’s a story about a little boy who was walking down a starfish covered beach. Some sort of natural phenomenon had caused the calamity.
As he walked he tossed a starfish here and a starfish there back into the surf. He continued this for blocks and blocks–one starfish at a time.
An old man saw the boy and inquired what he was doing. “I’m saving starfish,” the boy replied.
“But look at the thousands of starfish,” the old man said. “What difference can one little boy make to these thousands of stranded starfish?” he asked.
“To the starfish who make it back into the ocean it makes a big difference,” the boy replied as he continued to throw them back into the surf.
Check out this starfish-type story from NPR. Call it Ordinary Attempts or Making the World A Better Place, where have you seen this kind of devotion or calling?
September 11th, 2006 · 9 Comments
Categories: OA Stories
Helen said
am September 11 2006 @ 4:48 am
That’s an inspiring article, Bruce.
Not only does Chen Si stop people jumping off the bridge to commit suicide but he tries to help afterwards:
The starfish story is something I’ve thought about a lot about from the point of view of: when something happens to someone else, I might care to some extent. But when it happens to ME then suddenly it’s a whole different ballgame (if I can say something that American
).
If the starfish is someone else I might think – that’s a shame, and I might feel sorry about it. But if it’s ME then it’s life-and-death.
I’m not sure what the point of that is, but it does strike me how differently I think about something when it applies to ME rather than just to other people.
Bruce Logue said
am September 11 2006 @ 6:54 am
I thought the starfish story applied from the sense of the sheer numbers involved. Chen Si can’t save all the people that jump off the bridge. He saves who he can, and that makes a difference for those.
If every person just did he she/he could do, what a great world this would be.
Marty said
am September 11 2006 @ 7:49 am
I loved the story of Chen Si, a story I had not heard, and the story of the starfish – which I have heard many times and still find it poignant.
I also took the opportunity to study this blogs focus – Ordinary Attempts – and I read both Jim’s definition of “What is a OA” and Randy’s “A Church does OA” – and liked them both very much in terms of what I think can help make our Churches be a better part of helping make the world a better place.
Now, being a part of a wonderful community that includes Atheists as well as Christians – I see this area from a bit different perspective than I did before having this exposure. My sense is Jim too has learned much from the Atheists on this board and may have broader thoughts – particularly in now sharing with a group that is not just Christian.
Neither Chen Si’s story or the starfish story were stories that fit the part of leading someone to Jesus – as the OA program does.
From my new understanding of the Atheist perspective – I think we have learned that many Atheists are very involved with doing OA to Make the World a Better Place – and, as a Christian, I find myself wanting to equally support and champion those who do things to Make the World A Better Place – regardless of whether it seems to be God/Jesus driven or driven by just wanting to be a good person and make a positive difference.
I then wonder if some of the things that we do under the label of Christianity (which I think is great to do in a church) may be counterproductive to do outside the church. First – do we Christians truly treat Atheists as equals and with equal respect as we do our Christian brothern (I know I didn’t)? In organizations such as Rotary Club – how welcome are Atheists and how much emphasis is put on the invocation and the pledge – in which some in the group often put extra emphasis on “under God” – as if sticking it to the Atheists.
I hope that I can help cultivate and support all those who help make the world a better place – and have been particularly delighted that many of us have come to a greater appreciation of one another when the focus/emphasis has been on MTWABP.
April Terry said
am September 11 2006 @ 10:29 am
Marty -
I like what you had to say. One thing that all Christians should ask themselves is whether they are doing acts of kindness because they are trying to win people over to Christ or if it is as a result of the change in their hearts due to Christ. Evangelism for the sake of evangelism is a shallow motivation.
Motives are everything and while we might think that they are hidden, they are almost always transparent.
My main motivation with atheists is to not be that Christian who is arrogant, angry, or unloving.
Marty said
am September 11 2006 @ 12:06 pm
April:
I just went to your blog http://faithwarming.blogspot.com/ and was very taken with it – I highly reccomend it to everyone.
I particularly appreciated the manifestations of what you believe. I love your integrity, trasparency and independent thought. I think you really have it right about what being Christian is all about.
Bruce Logue said
am September 11 2006 @ 12:27 pm
Thanks for your comments Marty. It’s nice to have you in the OA community. How about sending us one of your own OA stories?
Pam Hogeweide said
am September 11 2006 @ 3:15 pm
this is why i like to ask guys who hold signs at freeways what their name is as i give them a bit of money that i won’t even miss. it’s not much, but it’s something for that moment for that person who has much value as the guy in the SUV ahead of my mini-van.
Helen said
am September 12 2006 @ 3:48 am
Note: I just posted a blog entry on CatE based on some of Marty’s comments about Christians, atheists and MTWABP (making the world a better place):
Should churches partner with atheists to MTWABP?
April Terry said
am September 12 2006 @ 3:51 pm
Marty -
Thanks for your comments re: my blog. It’s always nice to have others give you input about your thoughts and ideas. You made my day…I think that actually qualifies for an OA!