The Starfish story.

[Guest guest]

The Starfish Story

adapted from The Star

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ink_code=as3 & camp=211189 & creative=373489 & creativeASIN=0156849097>

by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)

Once upon a time, there was a wise 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, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a

human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of

someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that

what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the

shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out " Good morning! May I ask what it is that you

are doing? "

The young man paused, looked up, and replied " Throwing starfish into the ocean. "

" I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean? " asked the

somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, " The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I

don't throw them in, they'll die. "

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, " But, young man, do you not realize

that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every

mile? You can't possibly make a difference! "

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it

into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, " It made a difference for that

one. "

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FYI

This story has appeared all over the web in various forms, usually with no

credit given to Mr. Eiseley. Sometimes it is a little girl throwing the starfish

into the ocean, sometimes a young man, once even an elderly Indian. In any form

it is a beautiful story and one that makes you think.

Loren Eiseley was a anthropologist who wrote extensively. He was the 'wise man'

in the story, and he was walking along a beach after a storm and encountered the

fellow throwing the starfish back. I have not had a chance to read the original

book yet myself but will post more background info here after I do.