A Missionary Point of View

The story of Jane and St. John relates somewhat to my own life. The man that I married is not going to India, but he is in a ministry called Young Life. St. John and my husband, Joel, however, have some differences. For example, St. John claims that Jane must go with him to India. On the other hand, Joel is perfectly capable of doing ministry without me; he does need me to go with him into the “mission field.”

            One similarity between St. John and Joel is that missionary work is hard. We have already discussed that missionary work in India was dangerous in the 19^th century. Ministry in the United States is a lot less dangerous, but Joel's job can be challenging. He works weird hours, meaning he may get home at three o’ clock in the morning. His job doesn’t pay tons, so we are on a tight budget. Therefore, I can understand some of the reasons why Jane doesn’t want to be married to St. John. Life would be tough!

            There are some major differences between my position and Jane Eyre’s position. The thing about my husband’s ministry is that Young Life is our ministry. I have a desire to be working in the “mission” field. Jane, however, has no desire or passion for the people in India. Yes, she offers to go with St. John, but does she really want to? St. John even tells Jane that she does not need to be passionate: “God and nature intended you for a missionary's wife. It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love.” I hate this quote! There must be love and a desire, whether it is love for your spouse or for the ministry.

            It is clear that Jane is passionate about one thing-Mr. Rochester. Although I am not a huge fan of the man, I am glad that she ditches St. John and goes after her desires.