In My Place, In My Time Poem by M Paul Burress

I do not consider myself special, and you probably will never hear of me, other than this little written piece of explanation. I must say, I am not a person endowed with great natural gifts or abilities. Neither do I make claims to fame, or to a nobleman's title. I possess no riches other than my simple life, and it seems great holdings of real estate were for others to gain. Most likely the only monument to me will be raised over my remains to mark their placement. Lastly, I am probably only known by God, who made me and gave me my purpose.
So, I will use a story to tell you who and what I am.

* I am like a man who went to walk on the seashore one morning after a raging night of storm. The receding tide had left the sands literally covered with Starfish. The man observed the plight of the stranded starfish and began to pick them up and place them back into the sea. Soon, another strolling man approached him to ask, 'Why are you doing that? ' and He replied, 'The sun will be full up in a little while and the heat will destroy the stranded Starfish.' 'But” said he: 'what difference can you possibly make? ' 'This beach is ten miles long and there are millions of them.'
“Well”, “I guess I know that” he said as he picked up another one to put back into the sea, 'But, It did make a difference to this one... and it will make a difference to this one.... This one too, he smiled as he continued picking up Starfish, and placing them back into the sea....
Who am I?

I am just a simple Christian, standing on the sands of time, there are people lying helpless all about me are, cast up by the raging storm of sin. Of course, I know I cannot help them all, but I can make a difference to this one.... And I can make a difference to this one.... and this one.... and this one...
This is who I am.
M. Paul Burress
*Middle paragraph above was sourced from a magazine article marked anonymous, it was edited and rewritten by me.I added the other two paragraphs. I would appreciate comments, good or bad.