Subscribe to Morning Devotions podcast

Morning Devotions with Chris Witts podcast hero banner

Many groups use the slogan ‘making a difference’ as their catch-cry and it has become quite popular. Who does not feel inspired by the example of the total commitment of Mother Teresa, the fragile woman from the Balkans who devoted her life to the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta? She made a big difference in the world and is honoured for that.

Who does not still hear the echo of the words of Martin Luther King Jr, the pastor’s son from Atlanta who became the symbol of freedom from ethnic oppression, “I have a dream”?

Or we may think of the greatness of character of Nelson Mandela, who emerged from prison without any feelings of bitterness, to become the first black president of South Africa?

These people certainly made a difference. When it comes to you and I, we wonder, Can I make a difference? I’m an ordinary person. My name will never end up in Who’s who. Nor will I ever have a street named after me. What can one person do?

Make a Difference One at a Time

There was a writer who needed this particular day to clear his mind. He had run into a brick wall. His work was at a standstill. He had ‘writer’s block’.

He moved into a friend’s house down on a beach to get away from distractions, but still, nothing was forthcoming. With his mind a blank, he got up from the desk to get some coffee and looked out a window. He spied a fellow doing a very odd dance down the beach. He watched for a bit, but the dance didn’t change. The fellow would bend over, stand up, do some gyrations toward the surf and stop, walk back and start again by bending over.

Intrigued, the writer walked outside. The fellow continued his actions seemingly unaware that he was being observed. Fascinated by what might be a logical reason for the odd dance, the writer began walking down the beach. As he got closer, he began to realise that the fellow was picking something up and throwing it into the surf. He stopped near the young man and observed him bend over, pick up a stranded starfish, make a few unusual steps toward the surf and fling the creature into the ocean. The writer finally asked the young man, What are you doing?

Saving starfish. was the young man’s reply, as he threw another into the water. Looking around, the writer realised that hundreds and thousands of the starfish were high and dry and dying on the beach. The sand was littered with them.

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

It made a difference for that one.

He stated what might have seemed obvious to most, Doing what you’re doing won’t make any difference. Bending over, picking up another stranded animal and flinging it into the surf, he said, It made a difference for that one.

The writer was struck by the powerful truth of that simple statement. A single act can make a difference. Because the fellow couldn’t save all the starfish didn’t mean he couldn’t save some.

The writer then bent over, picked up a starfish, and threw it into the surf. Forgetting his problems, he spent the rest of the day with the young man ‘making a difference’ one starfish at a time.

That evening the writer’s mind was clear and ready to return to work.

(To be continued in Making a Difference – Part 2)

Get daily encouragement delivered straight to your inbox

Writers from our Real Hope community offer valuable wisdom and insights based on their own experiences!

Subscribe + stay connected with all
our latest stories

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by