Starfish

A wave crashed up on the shoreline with the sunset glowing on the horizon. It’s warm rays of orange and yellow reflected on the ocean’s water giving it a pure sparkle. A cool breeze rushed through the air carrying the scent of the salty ocean. Picture perfect evening, as if nature was beckoning for people to come and take a long stroll along it’s beach. A young boy took it up on it’s friendly offer as he wondered up and down the  shore. The waves continued to come, splashing he’s feet as he walked. As the water flooded his toes, he felt something else touch him. He looked down and much to his surprise it was a brightly colored starfish which seemed to glow under the clear water. He plucked it out of the water and held it in his hand for a moment. He admired the beauty and thanked the Creator for designing such a wonderful creature. Then, with a soft toss, it plunged back into it’s watery home. The boy went on his way down the beach when he noticed another starfish which had been shoved onto the sand away from safety. Again, he picked it up and tossed it back where it belonged. A few steps later.... another.... and another..... and another......... As each wave continued to come in it’s perfect pattern, it washed up more and more starfish... forcing them to their tragic fate. The young boy lifted his head and gazed down the shore and in astonishment, realized there were thousands of starfish lining the sandy beach, rapidly drying out. He quickly began gathering as many starfish as his small hands would allow and casted them back into the ocean in hopes of rescuing as many as he could. 

A tall man strolled down the sandy path towards the boy and watched as he continued saving these starfish with such determination. The man chuckled to himself at the innocence of this young lad before him. 

“What do you think you’re doing, son?” He inquired. The boy halted for a moment to meet the man’s gaze. “There’s so many starfish, you couldn’t possibly save them all or make a difference.... Why even try?” The man condemned. 

The boy held his stare for a few seconds longer before he knelt down and picked up another starfish. Throwing it back into the ocean the boy declared, “It mattered to that one.” 

I walked down the streets of Hollywood and looked around at all the people passing me by. I felt like a drop of water in an ocean, or a single grain of sand in a desert. I caught some of their eyes as we passed and just in a single glance, I was able to see their hurting and lost souls.The Lord had begun to open my eyes and change my heart in a whole new way with each step I took. My heart broke for each and every one of those people on the streets. I was overwhelmed by the love and compassion the Lord was giving me for these people. I didn’t even know them, not even their names.... but the Lord began to put in my heart how he was feeling for these lost people. 

“Break my heart for what breaks yours....” We often sing in church. What a great song! But do we actually mean it? Do you actually want the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His? I speak from experience, that He absolutely will.....if you are willing. 

It’s so easy to look down on the people which flood the streets of Hollywood. Just being there for a couple hours, I was a witness of things I’ve never seen before. Just getting to peek into these people’s lives, and lifestyles was horrifying. And I found it would be so easy to turn your nose up and walk away proudly thinking, “Thank the Lord I’m not living like them!! I’m such a great person cause I refuse to do those things.”

But instead, I was able to see them through Christ’s eyes..... feel the love He has for them..... the compassion..... the brokenness......

He brought me to the place where I just wanted to shine my light to everyone who passed me. But I felt like my light was drowned out by all the darkness surrounding me. And yet.... through the darkness, I had determination to let my light shine in someway.

I began not to care anymore what they thought of me, if they saw me as a fool, or laughed in mockery.  The Lord had me focused on the much bigger picture here.... the much bigger need... their salvation. It meant more to me that they would hear the truth then any concern I had of what they would do to me.... John 17:14,  “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world.” It’s expected that they won’t like us, John 3:11 says they love darkness rather than light. It shouldn’t be a surprise to us...But that doesn’t change anything. That doesn’t mean we are not supposed to shine our light as brightly as we can. Going and sharing His word is a command.... not a suggestion. 

I realized, for the first time in my life, how rare and unheard of the gift Christ has given us is. For me it’s always just been “common knowledge” as I have grown up in a Christian home. But I figured, even for people who have not had the benefit of growing up in a home like mine, they still have heard of Christ.... especially in the United States...... the country founded ‘under God!!’  And yet..... they have not heard. 

What does that say about us, fellow Christians?? Why are we not doing our job??.... why are we not doing what Christ has called us to do? He did not give us this gift of life.... the truth.... to be hidden and hogged for ourselves. We would be putting His precious sacrifice- what He did on the cross- to waste if we did not tell others. The gifts that He has blessed us with would be pointless if we didn’t use them. So, what are we doing about it? 

........I am tired of sitting in my comfortable pew, inside the air-conditioned building, and feeling safe in my comfort zone while there are billions and billions of people out there who have not heard about Jesus Christ. Don’t take this for granted, church! It’s so easy to go to service every Sunday, sit and listen to the nice sermon, flip through your leather Bible a little bit, then go home and continue on with the rest of your week. Have we forgotten the price which was paid for us? Have we forgotten the sacrifice? The burden which was carried? The pain?..... So we may have this precious gift. So we may be with Christ. So we may have eternal life! This is not something to be taken lightly..... don’t take it for granted. 

 I believe the Lord has begun something inside of me...... opened my eyes to a little sample of how He looks at this world..... and I want to go out there and make a difference. 

......”But where do I start?” I thought to myself as I wondered down these dark streets. Then I could feel the Lord reminding me about that single “Starfish”...... “It mattered to that one. That’s where you start Taylor....”

I cannot say it enough.......It is so important for us to get out the truth to all who have not heard. It’s what the Lord has called us to do. Walking around in Hollywood or even going to the mall and passing by crowds of people..... I can not look at them the same way anymore. God has broken my heart for the lost souls who don’t even realize where they are going once this life is over. John 13:34 commands us to love one another as Christ has loved us! And what did Christ do? He came to minister to the people, to serve and give them the truth. One way He showed His love to them was offering them the greatest and highest gift He possibly could!! It was out of pure love and compassion that Jesus spoke to the people...... And now He has given it to us to share...... what better way to show you’re love to others than to bless them with the truth??

There are so many starfish out there who are dyeing because they do not have the living water........ and you have the ocean at your toes.......