Because It Matters… The old man awoke just before sunrise, as he often did, to walk by the ocean’s edge and greet the new day. As he moved through the morning’s dawn, he focused on a faint, faraway motion. He saw a youth, bending and reaching and flailing his arms, dancing on the beach, no doubt in celebration of the perfect day soon to begin. But as he approached, he realized that the youth was not dancing but bending to sift through the debris left by the night’s tide. Stopping now and then to pick up a starfish, he would stand and heave it back into the sea. He asked the youth the purpose of his effort. “The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach, and they cannot return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “They will die unless I throw them back into the sea before the sun rises.” As the youth explained, the old man surveyed the vast expanse of beach, stretching in both directions beyond eyesight. Starfish littered the shore in numbers beyond calculation. The hopelessness of the youth’s plan became clear and the old man countered, “But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference.” The youth paused briefly to consider his words, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to the old man, he said, “I made a difference to that one”. Author Unknown

Reflection: When we are faced with daunting tasks, projects or situations, are we afraid to even begin? Do we continue helping others when we are ridiculed? Do we give in to the nay-sayers in our life, community and world? Lord, help me to make a difference, even in that one life. Help me remember that in serving others, we serve you. Thank you for each new day. Bless our families and communities. In Your name, we pray. Amen.