Live Virtual Group Session: 12PM EST January 30th 2026

20 Comments

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this session!

For this session we read a poem “No Answer” by Lia Purpura, posted below.

Our prompt was: “Write about giving, not wielding.”

Participants are warmly encouraged to share what you wrote below (“Leave a Reply”), to keep the conversation going here, bearing in mind that the blog of course is a public space where confidentiality is not assured.

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Please join us for our next session Wednesday February 11th at 12pm EST, with more times listed on our Live Virtual Group Sessions.

No Answer by Lia Purpura
No answer but stance,
no solving but moving
sideways, and
showing.
Not finishing
ministering.
Maintenance not construction.
Unwinding, bewildering
the day’s tightness,
the overfilled hours.
No flinching,
fledging,
wings untacked,
moments unstacking,
stormraising, pollensifting,
and free now,
the stories unworded
and given,
not wielded

Source: Poetry (September 2025)

20 thoughts on “Live Virtual Group Session: 12PM EST January 30th 2026”

  1. Trevor Hebert's avatar Trevor Hebert

    My silence is telling, my presence, it beckons

    For when the time comes to show up to the reckoning, it creeps to a standstill.

    I hold up my hand for a moment. One might think “Stop” or “Hello” but it’s simply a gesture for which people are known.

    This war and this violence need not be anymore than a pitiful spite turned raw,

    But to stand amongst this travesty, this cruelty, this shame… I raise both hands and command their attention.

    Implanting thought of universal law, I hoped for peace because long before your namesake came,

    I saw.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • al3793's avatar al3793

      Trevor,

      Your speaker reminds me of the desecration of hallowed ground. It seems important to stand up, if only to surrender to the silence of waiting. Thanks. Andre

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  2. Rita B's avatar Rita B

    Write about giving, not wielding

    Rita Basuray

    The word wielding immediately takes me to an action. In the old times – wielding a sword? A knife?

    In the present time, wielding power?

    I don’t think one can wield love. The words don’t go together.

    But, one can give (and receive) love. Automatically then, I like the word “give” over “”wield.”

    Who said words don’t hold power?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Trisha's avatar Trisha

      Thank you for sharing your reflection, Rita. I loved the idea that love can’t be wielded. It’s not a tool or a weapon by definition; can only ever be unwielded.

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    • al3793's avatar al3793

      Rita, words are so important and I see this trivialized in corporate medicine by words meant to market rather that to care. I played with “wield” in my piece and I agree with your speaker that giving and gift are words that broadcast power. Andre

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Trisha's avatar Trisha

    The man who discovered insulin gave it away, saying, essentially, that it never belonged to him.

    With each step of a gait cycle the ground’s reaction force is only a gift that helps propel us forward, not one with intention to knock us down.

    The boundaries of a day, the corset we created to bind us in, winds tacked, focused on a goal that is only mirage, unlaced at night by moonlight.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • al3793's avatar al3793

      Trisha, it is neat how your speaker raises the question of what actually belongs to an individual and I love the image and thought of the ground pushing back so we can move forward. The metaphorical closing reflects the poem’s ambiguities and points out the contradictions revealed by the light of the night. Andre

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    • leilasegal's avatar leilasegal

      I love this, Trisha. The way you express opposing forces, contradictions, tensions, that are resolved into love. (For me, though you didn’t use the word.) Love is a gift. The gift of our not demanding.

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  4. al3793's avatar al3793

    Giving, not wielding

    There is no secondary gain in giving away

    the gifts received as quickly as possible

    the theology of the gift.

    That giving wields extraordinary power

    empowering

    others to give away their gifts

    with gentle kindness

    Showing up even when the other is

    no longer present just because

    they thought you would.

    That’s giving unwielded while

    wielding great love.

    afl 01_30_2026

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Emily A's avatar Emily A

    Whenever you give someone scissors,

    you’re meant to hand them over

    with handles towards the other person.

    A safe transaction.

    An inviting interaction.

    A comfortable transmission.

    My favorite kind of people

    are the ones

    who hand me words

    the same way.

    A safe transaction.

    An inviting interaction.

    A comfortable transmission.

    In the end, I still have something sharp,

    but I wasn’t wounded in the process.

    Now … will I wield them?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • al3793's avatar al3793

      Emily, your speaker really took me into the semantic of life our children are learning in our culture that contrasts with the orderly, safe manner in which we exchange sharp tools. Unfortunately, we don’t have that safety in the way words are being used. They are cutting, immediate and reactive rather that carefully chosen and reflective, words that promote moving forward and into the lives of others. Andre

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      Reply
    • leilasegal's avatar leilasegal

      This is a fabulously beautiful poem, Emily, and reflects my feeling about words, so often, and especially in a medical context from the person who has the power.

      Like

      Reply
  6. michele348's avatar michele348

    About giving, not wielding~~~

    I stand here in shock…
    scarlet red blood staining the stark white snow.
    Words spoken to support the oppressed,
    are interpreted as subversive threats,
    as opposition to power and control.

    Force is wielded to silence dissenting views,
    but in doing so,
    more discord and chaos are created.

    What can I give
    in this air of confusion, anger, and hate?

    I can offer my heartfelt prayers to my Creator,
    imploring that the minds and hearts of mankind
    may be healed.

    In the quiet of prayer,
    my heart finds comfort,
    and I hear His voice clearly
    as He responds.

    New layers of pure snow fall upon the earth,
    covering the blood stains.
    Will we see the error of our actions
    or will we remain blinded
    and destined to repeat the needless
    surrender of life?

    Only the passage of time
    will answer that question.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • al3793's avatar al3793

      Michele,

      Michele, your speaker took words from the picket line to the page, words spoken even if not uttered. A disturbing image, not one of an orderly semantic of life but rather an episode, unpredictable, etched on our mind. And yet Force is telling us not to believe the truth of what we see. It certainly creates confusion and prompts reactive words fostering more anger. You speaker retreats to a space that is known to be safe, where they are seen and heard. New layers of snow may cover the blood stains but that doesn’t erase the engram etched on our minds. Sun on the snow can be blinding. Hopefully, some accountability will come with the passage of time and with that a more orderly use of words and wise use of power and wealth. Andre

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. leilasegal's avatar leilasegal

    Thank you so much for today’s session, everyone. What a privilege to belong to this group. Here is my writing in response to the prompt: ‘Write about giving, not wielding’

    This means not to ask in return. It is so hard. I learnt to do it only slowly in my new becoming. There were days, there were years, of not knowing. You showed me how in your need but not with your words. It taught me. When I saw that you were a baby who helpless called out only through silence because your words had flown.

    I gave to you as I fought for us. The wolves were everywhere. I would not yield even as they tore off chunks of my own flesh.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • michele348's avatar michele348

      The emotions expressed here by the speaker are palpable…”I would not yield even as they tore off chunks of my own flesh.” These words leave an image that is not easily forgotten.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • leilasegal's avatar leilasegal

        Thank you for taking the time to let me know that. I was a little scared to write such strong image though it was the image in my mind that accompanied the rest, so I felt that I would lay it there faithfully.

        Liked by 1 person

    • al3793's avatar al3793

      Leila,

      I mentioned during the session that I appreciated the courage to share this. I am especially moved by the courage expressed by your speaker. I hear an expression of profound maternal instinct to protect, nurture and love. The slow becoming new in the midst of years of not knowing prompted by an intensity of looking at the story as it evolved form “a baby who helpless called out only through silence because your words has flown.” Beautiful. Andre

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • leilasegal's avatar leilasegal

        Thank you for taking the time to let me know this. It is very encouraging. And to be seen, also. Today’s session meant so much to me, not only that I am seen, but sharing with others and seeing them. It was an atmosphere of great sensitivity and respect. And understanding. Thank you for your contributions.

        Like

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