As a young woman myself, I am not separated from Jane's overwhelming feelings and haunting memories. I would even openly deduce that we have all, as human beings, at one time or another, even in the very simplest of forms, felt every consuming reality of love that Jane felt.
Maybe there is still life to be lived in your own story in order to fully understand the love and righteousness that Jane's story transpires. However, the whole thing is oddly relatable even though Jane's character is written from a very unique perspective of a person whose life is so different from our American lives today. Her walk through loneliness, persecution, pride, rejection, humiliation, and suddenly friendship, kindness, hope then death. And, oh how recently I have experienced the last few steps, yes, Jane, you feel like an old friend.
One who doesn't give up in the face of death, but rather stands up, learns, teaches and moves on, never forgetting the deep love that friendship and truth gave. Hastening ahead to a new chapter of growth, this girl is faced with mystery and independence! While she is also placed within a new realm of responsibility and relevance. Suddenly with this new frame of mind, her ideas and dreams begin to crowd around her and to make her feel stuck in her surroundings. Desires come heavily upon her to explore even more of the power found in the freedom that she has only begun to taste.
Liberation drives her on to exercise her body and suddenly a strange event occurs which alters her entire life forever. She meets someone! A person who needs her more than either of them could have ever imagined.
From the first meeting of Mr. Rochester a long line of strange and yet lovely happenings begin. Apologetic at first, Jane asks to be of service to this man she has only just met. He replies roughly, annoyed at the circumstances he has fallen into (literally). And yet, as he says out loud later, this young girl has bewitched him and he, in turn, seems to have bewitched her as well.
Isn't that how love seems to feel when we first are interrupted by it?
Love changes everything!
In fact, just like the idea of magic, it is powerful and it feels so unexplainable. It dominates our thoughts and opens up the very darkest parts of our souls.
May I remind you that Jane is just another symbol of the truth that God is Love. He is also mightily in Control, even though things may seem all wrong at times, He has a good and gracious plan. A design that is set aside especially for those who choose to trust Him wholeheartedly.
I hope that wasn't too crazy a jump or conclusion, but this story of Jane so vividly portrays the passions that follow in my own daily life, I can't help but reflect them back to the Romance of my Savior.
He loves us with such a fervent and wonderful love, stronger than even the echo of Jane and Edward. And after just experiencing the up close and personal way that they ferociously cared for each other by watching them on film, it seems like I am saying a lot to compare them as a lesser love to my God. Of course, Jesus really does love more passionately, but also more gently. He loves Self sacrificially, in a way that Mr. Rochester only finally learned to do by the end of the story.
Oh how I pray I will learn to love beyond myself by the time my ending comes.
Thank you dear Father for life.
My greatest appreciation, Lord, is that I have been given the chance to Love... Fully... Inescapably... Completely... Through Your Love!
May I be filled with your strength each day, my dear Prince, to love as You have loved me...
Amen.
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