In a Gentle Way You Can Shake The World

Have you ever gazed at the trillions of stars above your head or looked out at the endless horizon? Sometimes simple moments like this can make us feel so small in this big world.

One time I particularly felt this was when my family visited my grandparents on their LDS church mission in Nairobi, Kenya.

One particular moment I remember from the trip was on a drive we took around the city. We were on our way to visit the orphanage and the van stopped on the side of a hill.

We looked out our window to see miles and miles of slums where there was shacks and sheds for as far as the eye could see.

We sat in awe as we watched thousands of people before our eyes living in unimaginable circumstances. The sight was horrifying.

Seeing so many children without shoes and people with skeleton like bodies hurt my heart.

This wasn’t how I expected to feel.

I had been anticipating this trip for months, with the mentality of “I’m Katelyn and I will save the world,” thinking I could become the new Mother Teresa.

But once I arrived my emotions were quite different.

I didn’t feel inspired to help, I felt helpless.

There were countless in need yet I was just one person.

What could I possibly do that could make a difference?

I pondered this question and expressed my feelings to my family. My Grandma revealed she too, often times, felt like this on her mission. Yet, she reminded me of a story that she kept close to her heart while she served.

The story of the Starfish.

“One day an old man was walking along the beach after a storm. Thousands and thousands of starfish were washed ashore. Further along he saw young women, walking slowly and stopping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean. “Young lady, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” He asked. “Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them further in, they will die.”  She replied. “But young lady, do you not realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly save them all; in fact you can’t even save one-tenth of them if you tried. Even if you work all day, your efforts won’t make any difference at all.” The young woman listened politely, then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. “Yes, but I made a difference to that one.”

~Adapted from the original story by Loren Eiseley

After my grandma told me this story, I looked out the window again and saw these people as my own starfish. Maybe I wouldn’t be able help all those Kenyan people and as truly heart aching as that was for me to accept, maybe, just maybe my efforts would still be enough and would be worth it. After all, our Father in Heaven doesn’t ask us to do everything but he does ask us to do something. If we all did a little something, just like the young woman in this story, wouldn’t the world be a better place?

Everyone’s part may be small but it does make a difference and together it is a miraculous work.

1 Nephi 16:29 says

“Thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” 

I love this scripture because often times I feel we get discouraged by such trivial things and fail to see the great things we are capable of doing.

These words remind us if we all do our part and act in our own small sphere, the Lord can accomplish miracles through each one of us.

Whether our small sphere is serving a mission, taking a humanitarian trip, fulfilling your church calling or everyday roles…YOU have the ability to influence the world in which you live.

As Buckminister Fuller said:

“Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren’t any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn’t be here in the first place. One person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person. ” 

Hear that? Be that one person. Just as many people in our lives are the “one person” for us, we can be that for others.

Look at our moms, dads, teachers, friends, role models, and even strangers whose actions and example has influenced each of us. These people are not of fortune of fame but yet the need for their individuality is apparent throughout our everyday lives.

Yet, what if they too disbelieved in their ability to make difference?

Often times we are the starfish that need to be saved and a friend’s loyalty, parent’s advice, teacher’s example, or a stranger’s compliment can make all the difference in the world.

Don’t we all have people in our life that “save” us?

Then why do we doubt our ability to save others?

Do not doubt yourself and do not feel how I felt at the beginning of my Kenyan trip, because no matter how devastating life’s problems seem to be, the biggest mistake we can make by becoming overwhelmed is to do nothing.

As Edward Everett Hale said:

“I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

Because what you can do does make a difference

and that difference changes the world.

There are people you’ll come across in your life that desperately need you.

So go change the world one starfish at a time.

Much love always,

Xoxo  Katelyn