The Star Thrower story inspired by the essey of Loren Eiseley

Veronica Winters - The still life with the starfish, bottle and key /żródło: https://veronicasart.com

Once upon a time, there was a wise man, who often went to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day when he was walking along the shore, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself and decided to come closer. When he was near he discovered that it was a young man who wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. -Good morning! What are you doing? - he asked curiously

The young man paused, looked up and replied:

- Throwing starfish into the ocean.

- I guess I should have asked, Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?

- The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die - answered the young man

- But don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference! The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves. 

- It made a difference for that one! 

His response surprised the man. He didn't know how to reply. So instead, he turned away and walked back to the cottage to begin his writings. All day long as he wrote, the image of the young man haunted him. He tried to ignore it, but the vision persisted. Finally, late in the afternoon he realized that he the scientist, he the poet, had missed out on the essential nature of the young man's actions. Because he realized that what the young man was doing was choosing not to be an observer in the universe and make a difference. 

That night he went to bed troubled. When the morning came he awoke knowing that he had to do something. So he got up, put on his clothes, went to the beach and found the young man. And with him he spent the rest of the morning throwing starfish into the ocean. 

P.S. We all have been gifted with the ability to make a difference.