Who’s Your Starfish?

 

“A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean. “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?,” he asks. “Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them further in they will die.” “But, old man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all, you can’t even save one-tenth of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won’t make any difference at all.” The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. Then, smiling at the young man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.“‘ (author unknown)

I would like you to take a moment, pause, and think to yourself… are you the young or old man in this story?

In our busy lives, it is easy for us to block out others needs and focus on ourselves. At times, we might feel inadequate or too small to make a difference in this large, broken world. Through the young man’s perspective, he felt like the old man was wasting his time tackling such a large project. As the young man looked out at the beach, he just saw the big picture – the great need – and did not take the time to notice all of the unique, individual starfish. On the other hand, the old man had a goal in mind and was intentional with his actions. The thousands of starfish that needed help did not distract him. Instead, he decided to make a difference and started saving them, one-by-one. Who is your starfish? How can you make a difference in the lives of those around you, right where you are?

Personally, my heart breaks when I see others hurting emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I often want to take matters into my own hands and make things better. As I attempted to do just that, I realized that without Jesus Christ, I would lose hope and give up. On my own, I am not capable of fixing all of the problems in our world: poverty, homelessness, starvation, diseases, etc. Instead, I find comfort in sharing my concerns and the hurts of others with Christ. I know and believe that Christ, who suffered on a cross and overcame death, is capable of healing the broken hearted, the sick, and comforting His people.

As scripture says in Psalm 55:22a:

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.”

As we share our troubled hearts with our Lord, He will comfort us and give us strength and wisdom with ways we can make a difference in the lives of those around us.

We are all born into this world with a purpose and calling on our life. Whether your job is caring for an infant, being a physician, or stocking cans in a local grocery store, God uses all of us to reach those in our path, every day. I encourage you to take a moment, look at the “starfish” around you and see how you can make a difference. Every little small task goes a long way. You just never know how it can change or save someone’s life. Take life one-step at a time. When we do our part, God will take care of the rest.

God’s Perfect Timing + Act of Obedience = A Changed Life

“Hi. I’m Sally. Do you want to come to Campus Ambassadors tonight?” It all began with a simple question and God’s perfect timing.

In October 2011, I casually invited a friend, Jess, to Campus Ambassadors (CA). Without any questions or hesitation, she said yes. “As I watched hands go up in the air and people pray, I was confused,” Jess stated. At this moment, I knew what she was thinking, “What did Sally bring me to?!” God still used this night to speak to Jess. After the evening wrapped up, Jess said, “I can’t wait to come back next week!” Since then, I have had the opportunity to share the gospel with her. In May 2012, Jess committed her life to Christ.

College is an important season in a young person’s life, where gaining independence and making choices is a serious endeavor. As students are choosing majors and questioning their purpose in life, they often turn to the secular world for their identity. Through campus ministries, we are there to support students and provide them with the truth of the gospel.

Jess is just one example of the 32,000 students at the University at Buffalo (UB), who are seeking answers.

I often hear questions like:

1)  Of all the world’s possible religions, why do you think the stories of the Bible are more valid than the stories of other religions?

2)  If God wants everyone to go to heaven, why did He create Hell?

3)  If God is all-powerful and loving, why doesn’t He stop pain and suffering?

These are hard questions I am faced with every day by college students. I am determined to steer individuals in the right direction through God’s wisdom and strength. As a Campus Minister, I will have the opportunity to evangelize and disciple college students daily! I recognize that God has a calling on my life and I desire to follow that call wherever it may take me.

Mark 6:15b states “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.”

If you are interested in hearing more about my ministry and how YOU can make a difference by partnering with me, I encourage you to contact me at SallyHen@Buffalo.edu.