Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Starfish- Throw it back!


The Starfish -Ka Hôkû Kai  [kah HOH' KOO' kai]
Once upon a time, there was a wise kupuna (elder), who went to the sea to contemplate. One day while walking along the shore, the kupuna looked down the beach, and saw a gracefully dancing human figure. The kupuna wondered out loud, "who would so joyfully greet this day with hula?" and began to walk faster to catch up.  Getting closer ...

the kupuna saw that the dancer was a keiki (child), who was not dancing at all. The keiki was reaching down to the sand to pick up something, and was gently throwing it into the sea. The kupuna called out to the keiki, "Aloha! What are you doing?"
The keiki paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the sea." Surprised, the kupuna sputtered, "I guess I should have asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the sea?" The keiki smiled brightly, pointed upward and, with exquisite simplicity, replied "The sun is up, the tide is going out, if I don't throw them in they will die." "But don't you realize," asked the kupuna, "that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!" 

The keiki listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it gently into the sea, just beyond the breaking waves, and exuberantly declared, "It made a difference for that one." 

In each and every one of us, there is something very special. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a positive difference.  If we are fortunate enough to fully accept and acknowledge that gift, we gain the "mana", the power to shape the future. 

Like the starfish, you have been chosen out of the multitude, to surf upon this cyber-shore and be inspired by a child's wisdom.  Become the wise keiki. "The sun is up, the tide is going out.  If you don't throw them in, they will die." 

Return the aloha spirit back into your Sea of Life. Find your starfish. Throw them gently and wisely back into the sea so they may live.  Making a difference, you will Live!

And we are all The Blessed. Ola! (Live!) 

Adapted by a kupuna from a story by Author Unknown 
'Olelo No'eau - Hawaiian Proverbs
Hawaiian Proverb
Contributed by: kaimana

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