Friday morning at the MaineWorks circle often includes guests from the community. This morning we were delighted to welcome Andy Lilienthal, from Camp Winnebago where "'Winnebagans' achieve extremely high results and campers understand the value that being supportive of each other makes, while gaining leadership experience, emotional intelligence, physical confidence and skills over the course of the summer."
What did Andy think of the circle? He referred to it as community. And community building is where growth can blossom. Thank you Andy for meeting us all.
If photographs are prayers, and posting is a vigil, here's another one for you, Alden.
If photographs are prayers, and posting is a vigil, here's another one for you, Alden. You're on one hell of a journey.
You survived the Opioid Epidemic.
Now you face yet another challenge of a lifetime.
But you're out of strong stuff woven.
With you in prayer....
Alden Andrews, formerly a MaineWorks employee was struck by a tractor trailer in Liberty, Maine this week.
He is in the hospital in critical condition. Updates available of his gofundme page posted below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/medical-and-family-expenses-for-hit-an-run-victim
An update on Alden Andrews
An update on Alden Andrews:
UPDATE
3/13/20 9:15am -
Your prayers are working! He continued to fight for his life and is still with us today. He's currently on dialysis to stabilize his labs. When it's completed and his blood pressure has restabilized he will be sent to the OR for his next surgery. Today the orthopedic surgeons will be cleaning up his mangled leg, putting pins in and assessing bloodflow to determine what can be saved. Life over limb. Please keep him in your thoughts today <3
From Kendra Vinal who is organizing the gofundme.
If photographs can be prayers then I'm gonna be posting a lot of this guy.
If photographs can be prayers then I'm gonna be posting a lot of this guy. One of the original Pioneers of Recovery I met at MaineWorks four years ago.
In fact he was part of the group that inspired that reference to Pioneers. He was generous with his time and descriptions of his own journey and gave me great insight to the pain and loss of addiction...and the energy required to recover.
He was victim of a hit and run in Liberty, Maine last night. And remains in very, very tough shape. His brother is asking for prayers. I understand his condition is critical.
If photographs can be prayers you'll be seeing a lot of him. DAMN.
It is true that this guy, a Pioneer of Recovery that I met at MaineWorks four years ago is in very, very serious shape after a hit and run in Liberty, Maine.
It is true that this guy, a Pioneer of Recovery that I met at MaineWorks four years ago is in very, very serious shape after a hit and run in Liberty, Maine. Heartsick. Absolutely heartsick. If you are able to contribute there is a gofundme set up that will help he and his family. God knows he deserves the assistance.
Praying for you, buddy.....praying.
What love looks like.
What love looks like. A moment after the proposal. She said YES. Congratulations Ben and Athena.
—with Ben Klebe
So. Two years ago I may not have had an imagination big enough to imagine this moment. Things looked a lot different then.
So. Two years ago I may not have had an imagination big enough to imagine this moment. Things looked a lot different then.
This is Ben Klebe, having just proposed to Athena...and she said yes.
Congratulations Ben and Athena. And cheers to people overcoming daunting odds.
You may recognize Ben as a staff member at MaineWorks.
Every once in a while, in a world filled with its' share of despair and seemingly irreparable brokenness, I am invited to witness the joy.
Every once in a while, in a world filled with its' share of despair and seemingly irreparable brokenness, I am invited to witness the joy.
She said YES.
Congratulations Ben and Athena!
—with Ben Klebe
Sometimes it's remarkable to stand in the light.
Sometimes it's remarkable to stand in the light. To look at the world with eyes wide open. To build a life with the scaffolding of intention and support. Making change. Cheers to the Pioneers of Recovery at MaineWorks.
A message left at the MaineWorks office this morning, written in cursive on a MaineWorks pad:
A message left at the MaineWorks office this morning, written in cursive on a MaineWorks pad:
Brave One,
Brokenness comes from pressure, healing comes from love. Only peace of mind can be a bandage. Yet who can experience any of the above without first stepping into the pain?
———————
Anonymous. We don't know who to thank or credit.
Wisdom on the Scratch Pad.
Amen.
-with Ben Klebe
After the MaineWorks Circle is done and job assignments are made clear, transportation to the job site becomes priority.
After the MaineWorks Circle is done and job assignments are made clear, transportation to the job site becomes priority. Margo Walsh is often transporting employees. In a moment like this the pride, possibility and hope are pretty clear
Gonna' be a good day. MaineWorks employee geared up and ready to go. Hope lives here.
Gonna' be a good day. MaineWorks employee geared up and ready to go. Hope lives here.
Just about everyone in this circle has hit a bottom. Some have hit it many times.
Just about everyone in this circle has hit a bottom. Some have hit it many times. Everyone in this circle knows what it is to be the one who's messed up. Screwed up. Crashed. The one who lost most everything....including trust and respect. To see someone take the opportunity to build a life again putting the bricks back in a new position inspires. It inspires others who think or feel it can't be done. Who may feel it's too late. Or it's too much.
Never. And in this circle look around. Others suffer. Others are trying. Others will succeed. Others will fall and come back. Get to know them as yourself. Someone trying.
It's as if we witness them becoming.
For those that show up to work at MaineWorks each and every day and navigate the path of doing the next right thing and then the next, it's as if we witness them becoming. What are they becoming? Themselves. Fully alive humans. Engaged. Present. Congratulations.
MaineWorks Circle. Is it about recovery and struggles with the opioid crisis and alcoholism? Well, yes. But what's really at hand here?....
MaineWorks Circle. Is it about recovery and struggles with the opioid crisis and alcoholism? Well, yes. But what's really at hand here?
The crisis of becoming human when you can no longer wash away the pain. When your rock bottom includes purposelessness or meaninglessness. What is it you are showing up to and what will make it be absolutely delicious to do so?
MaineWorks founder Margo Walsh arriving before the circle, her hands suggesting the seemingly simple sorcery necessary to make a life here.
MaineWorks founder Margo Walsh arriving before the circle, her hands suggesting the seemingly simple sorcery necessary to make a life here.
'Show up. Work hard. Do it again. Then do it again. Stop the complaints. Let go of the grip of ego.And let all your dreams unfold from that. First? Show up. Work hard. Do what is asked of you. Do it well. Do it again.'
'If you cannot fly then run, if you cannot run then walk, if you cannot walk then crawl, but whatever you do keep moving forward.' Martin Luther King, Jr.
'If you cannot fly then run, if you cannot run then walk, if you cannot walk then crawl, but whatever you do keep moving forward.'
Martin Luther King, Jr.
The MaineWorks Circle was big this morning and was still looking for a few more employees to fill the requested jobs....
The MaineWorks Circle was big this morning and was still looking for a few more employees to fill the requested jobs.
Employees were asked 'What have you done in your life that you think is cool?'
We heard: I've traveled the world; I've traveled to every state in the nation, one young man has done so riding train car. Others have stayed at Van Gogh's apartment in France; had clearance to ride on a stealth bomber. Some employees mentioned moose hunting and pig hunting; fishing long line; long boarding; athletic pursuits. But these are the answers that stopped me in my track:
My sobriety.
My daughter.
My two children.
This came up In Memories this morning. Dear Bruce Bannon...
This came up In Memories this morning. Dear Bruce Bannon, featured in the photo is no longer with us having died this year. Until we meet again, Bruce.
Posted January 18, 2019 (one year ago):
At MaineWorks you will find a circle that is a repository of peoples' deepest pains, failings and brokenness. Even the fire pit is wobbly and missing a leg. I look at it with great affection because despite this it is working just fine and we huddle around it. ..as if to say 'Hey fire pit, you are rocking it today.'
It is also a circle where you will be seen more deeply. Beyond the transgressions, criminal offense, addiction, behavior born of addiction, pain and trauma. Someone will see that if you show up with your greatest pain the brokenness can also be a breaking open...and the light that begins to shine out of our brokenness will blind us with beauty. Yup. Just another morning at MaineWorks.
MaineWorks employee. And his boots.There's a story.
MaineWorks employee. And his boots.There's a story.