In this MaineWorks circle we spoke about the safety of a fire circle. There are still places that light a fire and assemble community around it to protect them from the 'wild beasts'. Places where there are predators lurking in the shadows waiting to take down their prey, made easier if someone has wandered off into the jungle or forest alone. The fire is safety and connection. Here in this parking lot we also protect ourselves from the wild beasts of addiction and substance abuse. It nips at everyones heel, just outside the light of this circle waiting for that moment when vigilance fails. The predator has been described here at this circle as an enemy that never sleeps and knows exactly where you are 24/7.
It waits for that less than vigilant moment to dig into our calves and drag us away into the dark.
And we have lost many on this journey. Some of the employees can no longer keep track of how many they know that have died.
This fire is about life or death. Keep coming back to the fire even if just for these brief moments, safe at least for that time, from the wild beasts lurking in the shadows.