This past weekend, I embraced my new daily routine, beginning each day at 6 AM. I started by brewing a cup of coffee, which has become a comforting ritual, and then moved on to reading the AA daily reflection. This was followed by exploring a random passage from Taoism, Buddhism, or Confucianism that I discover through an app. I also made time for a daily devotional on my Bible study app, and concluded this quiet morning routine with a few heartfelt prayers. Afterward, I quickly showered to prepare for the 7 AM AA sunrise meeting. This routine, with its deliberate pauses for reflection and the 10 minutes of meditation that follows the reading from the AA Big Book (from page 85 halfway down to the end of the chapter), has become a sanctuary of peace for me. It’s a time of grounding and clarity before the day fully begins.
This weekend, however, I decided to let go of the reins and allow my family to steer the course of our time together. I stepped back from trying to control every detail and instead focused on being present with my wife and children. I was initially unsure how things would unfold, but by Sunday night, I realised that this weekend had been one of the best we’d experienced as a family in a long time. The absence of my usual need to manage everything allowed for a natural flow of connection and joy. We laughed, played, and truly enjoyed each other’s company without the usual pressures or expectations.
As I lay in bed that Sunday night, I felt a deep sense of happiness and contentment. The peace I usually find in my morning routine extended throughout the weekend, but it was amplified by the joy of being fully present with my family. I felt at ease, not just because of the practices I had engaged in earlier in the day, but because I had trusted the process and allowed things to unfold naturally. This was a new level of peace—one that came from surrender and trust, rather than control and planning.
Reflecting on this experience, I’ve come to understand that peace is not just something we cultivate in solitude through meditation or reflection; it’s also something we can find in the embrace of the present moment, especially when we allow ourselves to let go of control. By stepping back and letting my family lead, I experienced a profound sense of balance and harmony that I hadn’t anticipated. This weekend taught me that sometimes, the most meaningful moments come not from our efforts to organise and manage, but from our willingness to let go and simply be.
Peace in the present
This past weekend, I embraced a new dawn,
Six hours marked the start of every day,
A ritual of coffee, warm and drawn,
Prepared my spirit for the onward way.
The AA’s wisdom, a familiar friend,
Joined by thoughts from Tao, or Buddha’s mind,
And sacred words where faith does comprehend,
A quiet space where solace I could find.
Devotion’s balm and prayer, a heartfelt plea,
Completed this serene, reflective art,
Then, swift ablutions for the company
Of kindred souls, a brand new, hopeful start.
Ten minutes’ pause, the Big Book’s 85th page,
A sanctuary of peace, a tranquil stage.
Yet, this weekend, I relinquished control,
Let family steer our journey’s winding course,
No longer captain of life’s restless soul,
But passenger, embracing nature’s force.
Uncertainty at first, a doubtful mind,
But Sunday’s eve revealed a joyful scene,
A family bond, so precious and refined,
Laughter and love, a heart-warming queen.
No need to manage, dictate, or command,
Just presence, pure, and open to the day,
A harmony of hearts, a helping hand,
A simpler world where joy would light the way.
That night in bed, a calmness deep and still,
A peace beyond the morning’s quiet will.
Not just from practice, meditation’s art,
But from surrender, an open, trusting heart.
A balance found, a harmony complete,
In letting go, and life’s embrace to meet.
This weekend’s gift, a lesson to be learned,
That peace is born where trust and grace are earned.
Not in control, but in surrender’s art,
We find true peace, a brand new, hopeful start.
