What Difference Does it Make?

by Kathleen Ahern

Children's Librarian

“What difference does it make?  Yeah, what difference does anything make anymore?”  Last week, I overhead those two troubling questions voiced by young women who were behind me in a grocery store line. Their questions stopped me in my tracks as they spoke of global warming, the separation of children from their parents and other concerning current issues.

I, too, feel greatly saddened, shocked and overwhelmed at times when I ponder the state of our nation and our world at large.  However, it didn’t feel appropriate for me to intrude on their conversation.  So instead, I will share a lovely story by Loren Eiseley that has and continues to serve as a beautiful reminder to me of the difference we each can choose to make. So for those two young women and all the rest of us, with deep appreciation to Loren Eisely, I share:

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.” 

A powerful story, indeed.  And as you ponder it, I encourage you to head to Neill Public Library.  We have a plethora of books and other resources to inform you, encourage you and inspire you to make a difference.