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

20 Comments January 30, 2026 cnmcolumbia

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”

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.

LikeLiked by 2 people

January 30, 2026 at 1:04 pm Reply
- 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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  January 30, 2026 at 1:18 pm Reply
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?

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2026 at 1:07 pm Reply
- 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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  January 30, 2026 at 1:18 pm Reply
- 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
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2026 at 1:21 pm Reply
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.

LikeLiked by 2 people

January 30, 2026 at 1:08 pm Reply
- 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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  January 30, 2026 at 1:25 pm Reply
- 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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  January 31, 2026 at 12:25 pm Reply
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

LikeLiked by 2 people

January 30, 2026 at 1:14 pm Reply
- leilasegal
  
  again, love the contradictions – a gift unsolicited becomes healing.
  
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  January 31, 2026 at 12:26 pm Reply
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?

LikeLiked by 2 people

January 30, 2026 at 1:21 pm Reply
- 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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  January 30, 2026 at 1:29 pm Reply
- 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.
  
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  January 31, 2026 at 12:27 pm Reply
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.

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2026 at 1:44 pm Reply
- 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
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2026 at 2:14 pm Reply
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.

LikeLiked by 1 person

January 30, 2026 at 2:00 pm Reply
- 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.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2026 at 2:04 pm Reply
  - 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.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    January 30, 2026 at 5:55 pm
- 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
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  January 30, 2026 at 2:20 pm Reply
  - 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.
    
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    January 30, 2026 at 5:53 pm