With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 58)

So, how do we command earnestness?
Goodness knows I’ve tried.
I’ve sought to control people, events,
emotions, results, eating, compulsions,
what you thought of me, and what you
should do, say, be. I’m sure somewhere,
somehow I’ve tried to command
earnestness. And failed.
So, what earnestness is at my command?
That which comes from giving up,
from letting go, from turning it all over
and from the joy, the peace, the life
that comes from knowing I can command
nothing else.