There are over 140 million orphans in the world. That number is so huge that it is hard for us to fathom, and so many times we don't bother, thinking what difference can we make?
But these children are real. Isaiah is real. He is not just a statistic. He is a boy who needs a mommy and a daddy. He needs love, food, hugs, and friends. At age four, he has been in an orphanage all his life, and he will soon be transferred to a mental institution (yes, you read that right).
So does it make a difference to pray for and raise funds for just one? You bet it does. Consider this story:
The Starfish Story adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley 1907 – 1977
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.”
It is easy to think that one person's prayers will not change a situation--that, surely there need to be more....multitudes, to make a difference. But that would be negating the power of the only One who truly can change things, and He tells us to pray!
ReplyDeleteI am praying for Isaiah, and I am thankful for your "living loudly" for him through Christ.