Against such there is no mandate

Yesterday, I weeded the garden bed.

This morning, (spoiler alert),
              I dusted.

Unfortunately, on the list of official restrictions,
weeding and dusting do not appear.

And while many things exist that I cannot do in this season of covid,
      much of which is way beyond my control
              or the narrow scope of my abilities,
   I can do something.

We are in lock-down because of the covid virus,
       but a wide wide world emerges within.
We are not constricted after all,
                but enlarged by the possibilities,
    hidden like surprise ten dollar bills in the pocket
                          of an old ignored coat.

If there is something I cannot do,
        I can turn to another.
I may not be able to change circumstances,
      yet there is a deeper treasure within,
not just in what I do,
          but in who I am becoming.

Not that I complain of want,
for I have learned,
in whatever state I am,
           to be content.
I know how to be abased,
and I know how to abound;
in any
    and all circumstances
I have learned the secret
  of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and want.
I can do all things in Him
    who strengthens me.

                     Philippians 4. 11-13

There are many things
    against such there is no mandate.
Contentment
                is one of them.

Paul -- who authored this epistle in 59 A.D.--
was not living high and mighty at the time,
but confined to a squalid prison cell
            --literally on lockdown.
He did not dwell on
           "why, God?"
     but on "what, God?"
Chained to a jail wall,
in what only appeared as a deep dark hole,
       facing hardship and probable death,
Paul did the unexpected and unlikely
            and what was within reach:
     he began writing letters
     to those he knew personally
    and those believers he had only heard about.
What was within arm's reach
             was far more extensive than he would ever know.
At least thirteen of his letters are included in the New Testament.

And more than 2000 years later,
        we are still encouraged by them.

Wbat, God, what have You placed before me today?

How can I be faithful to You?
       Even in these circumstances,
       even in my heart attitude,
            against such there is no mandate.

Your glory in this day
          liberates me,
Your faithfulness reigns beyond the skies.
    against such there is no mandate,
    against such there is no end.