The Star Thrower Story
Once upon a time, there was a wise
couple who loved to go to the ocean to write. For inspiration they would go
for a walk along the beach before they began their work.
One morning, as they were walking along the seashore after a storm, they saw
in the distance a figure moving like a dancer at the water's edge. They
smiled to each other embracing the idea of someone dancing to greet the day,
and so, they walked faster to catch up.
As they drew closer, they noticed that the figure was that of a young child,
and that it was not dancing at all. The young child was reaching down to the
shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
They came close enough to call out "Good morning! May we ask what you are
doing?"
The child paused, looked up, smiled and replied "Throwing starfish into the
ocean."
"Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the curious couple.
To this, the child 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 couple solemnly replied, "But there are several
kilometers of beach and there are starfish along every one? You can't
possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young child bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and
threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, the child said, "But
I made a difference for that one."
An understanding suddenly dawned over the couple as they watched the child throw another starfish into the sea. "We understand" they said. "You are not alone any more." They each picked up a starfish and threw it into the sea. "After us, there will be others...”
Adapted by
Kimberlie & Jacqueline from
The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)
The original version of this beautiful story was written by Mr. Loren Eiseley. Eiseley was an anthropologist and a poet who wrote with imagination and insight about nature and cosmology in the tradition of Henry David Thoreau.