A few notes drift from the piano. It’s a recognizable tune, a love song by KC and JoJo. The usual key master isn’t at the piano but rather an unlikely character plays with heart and soul unusual for the countenance he normally displays.
He’s tough and cool and always connecting with someone on his cell. Today a group of kids are lounging around the piano; his backup singers are a mixed bag from elementary school through college. They are white and black, rich and poor. Until this theatre production of Footloose, many of them had never spoken to a kid of a different race before. They were awkward in the beginning and are now producing a harmonious blend of music; it’s the type of music that cannot be created by trained talented voices.
The music heard today came from voices that had found a common ground to connect on. Walls and judgment that had once been in their hearts and minds have now all but faded and this is the place where they are singing from. It is a place of freedom where they can be themselves. This is a good place to sing from. This is a good place to be.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Freedom Foundation “blog” – a place to read everyday stories from everyday people who volunteer for the Freedom Foundation. These are the stories that are the life of the events, programs and efforts of the Foundation.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
Monday, March 24, 2008
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