My sons and I were biking down the beach this past week when we saw droves of starfish along the shoreline. As the tide receded, many of the starfish were stranded on shore breathing their last breath. In the distance, I saw the ocean—their source of life. Sweet souls were racing to pick up the starfish and reconnect them back into the ocean, but for some, it was too late.
Like us, starfish must have sufficient water running through their body to live. We both have a desperate need for water. We can live up to 5 days without water, but a starfish can only live 3-5 minutes washed ashore and disconnected from the sea.
The starfish are invertebrates with nearly 200 different species ranging from one inch to 3 feet wide. Their bodies contain water-filled canals, often called their water vascular system, which allows them to move, feed, and breathe. Without water continuously entering their bodies, the starfish die from carbon dioxide intoxication.
Likewise, we have a circulatory system that pumps blood containing water and nutrients to all parts of our body. This water impacts every cell and every system in our body: muscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, nervous, integumentary, reproductive, immune, and lymphatic. If water is not sufficient, these systems don’t function properly. If denied water for five days, each one of these systems will shut down, and death results.
It takes time, but a starfish can regenerate an arm.
Starfish have the ability to regenerate an arm when they lose one. Our body has the ability to heal and regenerate cells, too. Our body was created with an innate ability to heal on a daily basis, if we do the right things such as hydrate properly, exercise daily, get deep sleep, and eat nutrient-dense foods. Recently, scientists discovered that parts of our brain can also regenerate.
In addition, humans have a spiritual thirst that can only be quenched in a true relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself compared our need of Him to our body’s need for water. We honestly can’t live without Him just as our body can’t live without water.
We need each other, but we must be connected to The Living Water just as the starfish must be connected to the ocean.
I couldn’t help but think of what we have in common with the starfish as we rode down the beach. We stopped long enough to gently place a few starfish back in the ocean so they could breathe again. When we get disconnected from the source of life (Jesus), it sucks the energy and life out of us. We dry up spiritually and die. Sometimes we think we can get our strength from other sources. Others may help, but Jesus is the Living Water that never dies.
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John 4:13-14 (NKJV)
The next time you see a starfish on the shore, gently toss them back in. Remember that both of us need sufficient hydration. Our commonality serves as a reminder of our bodies’ need for hydration. Our spirits, however, can only be quenched by The Living Water.
A starfish must be connected to the sea just as we must be connected to Jesus.
What lessons do you think of when you see a starfish?
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com.
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