This is the story of a society of butterflies who have their functional and dysfunctional sides. This particular 'species', as they refer to themselves, is plagued by dysfunction at so many levels in critical stages of development that they hardly resemble butterflies at all. Instead, they are more like the caterpillars who began but never finished the transformation of becoming a butterfly. One member of this species resolves to overcome his dysfunction and sets out to undo his upbringing and makes a new life for himself. Along the way he finds that this desire and resolve alone aren't enough to dismantle and rebuild his life. It's only due to friends he meets along the way who show him a better way of life and help him that he is able to help himself. Then he is able to work out a normal and healthy lifestyle. Among the dysfunctional traits in his society is the assistance of the caterpillars out of their eggs and butterflies out of their cocoons. The society believes they are saving each other the torture and pain of a difficult and unnecessary task. This unfortunately leaves the butterflies with deformed wings that won't expand. Because of this they end up looking stunted with wings that are useless for flight. They have developed the idea that flying is not something their species does. Besides this, the fabric of the cocoons are saved and rewoven into clothes and used as building material for their houses. Trials beset the efforts of this butterfly to change. In an attempt to fly he is humiliated and injured. At that point his family has no other choice but to ask for help from the flying butterflies who can provide some help with recovery. Taken to a hospital in the flying butterfly's community, he works harder than ever in his life and is able to recover with the skilled help of caring and healing therapists. He finds the help he could not give himself to rebuild the damage done to his body and learns to fly like butterflies were meant to.
About the Author: Blaine MacNeil and his wife Melanie enjoy their country home in central Minnesota. He is a Lutheran Pastor in parish ministry. Blaine also serves as a Chaplain with the Air Force Auxiliary/Civil Air Patrol at the rank of Captain. As an artist he loves calligraphy and creating Celtic drawings. Blaine also enjoys playing guitar, and writing music. He holds two undergraduate degrees in the field of Nursing and in Health and Wellness Education, as well as two graduate degrees with a Masters in Adlerian Psychology and a Masters in Divinity. The field of Self-Help, the work of Recovery and living a growth oriented lifestyle are essential to him. He has done advanced training in the field of Crisis Management and served in that capacity often. He has been a member and facilitator of support groups for many years, as well as a guest speaker. As a facilitator he has lead groups in several areas including Codependency, 12 Steps for Christian Living, Grief and Bereavement, and Parenting.