A short story by Loren Eiseley entitled "The Star Thrower" illustrates a core Bright Wood belief: That each of us has the desire to make a difference. This belief is reflected in the dedication Bright Wood people bring to their jobs, families, and communities.

The following is an adaptation of Eiseley's story:

Once upon a time there was an old man walking alone on the seashore after the tide had gone out. He saw a boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the ocean. When the man told the youth that the beach was too vast and the starfish too numerous for his efforts to make a difference, the boy responded by picking up yet another starfish and gently throwing it beyond the breaking waves. "It made a difference for that one," the boy said.

The man walked away incensed. He couldn't forget the encounter and he spent the remainder of the day and most of the night thinking about the boy. Finally, in a moment of insight, the man realized that he had missed the true meaning of the youth's actions.

By throwing the starfish back into the ocean so they wouldn't die on the beach, the boy was essentially choosing to be an actor in the universe. He consciously decided to make whatever difference he could - no matter how great or small. Early the next morning the old man found the boy and joined him in throwing starfish.

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