Discovering your own Mission

As I have read so far, Jasmine is a very unique character that has a very unique outlook on life.  In the very first chapter she goes as far to describe herself as a “Sage.” (pg.5) because of the scar that she describes as “…my third eye.” (pg. 5).  I’m not sure if she views this as her mission in life, to be a sage, however I think this topic is something that she thinks deeply about.  I think this is something that we all think about as humans on this earth.  Personally, I like to feel like I have a place in this world, as small and insignificant as it maybe, it is a nice feeling to belong and contribute.

I feel that this is what Jasmine wishes to do, is find her place in life.  Fulfilling whatever assignments or tasks she has been assigned to by God would make her feel like she belongs.  I believe Jasmine understands it, as she shows us when she says, “The Lord lends us a body, gives us an assignment, and sends us down. When we get the job done, the Lord calls us home again for the next assignment.” (pg.59) Jasmine goes on to examine the missions that she and people close to her have been assigned by the Lord. She ponders what her father’s assignment from God may have been, and she thinks that it may have been to get taken early so as to affect her life because she was not able to be married off.  Jasmine then looks at her own assignment from God, and wonders if she was sent to enlighten others, such as Taylor, who clearly needs enlightenment according to Jasmine.  According to Jasmine, Taylor is too focused on something that may or may not be meant for him in terms of his assignment from God on this earth. 

I really like this view of the world however I think it would be hard to accept that fact that “Everything you do, if you’re a physicist or a caregiver, is equally important in the eye of God.” (pg. 61).  This is a very communistic view, and one that I don’t think is widely accepted, at least not in the states.   I think throughout the whole novel, Jasmine is trying to discover what her mission from the Lord is, so she will be able to accomplish it.  She says that assignments from God may be as simple as “…moving a flower top from one table to another,” (pg. 60) however they are all equally important in the eyes of the Lord. I also like how Jasmine explains the incentive of this system to herself, as how you must “….treat ever second of your existence as a possible assignment from God.” (pg. 61)  I think that if you treat everything as an assignment from the Lord, you will put more passion into everything you do.  Unfortunately I do not believe that most people are dedicated enough for this belief, and prefer more lucrative and tangible incentives, such as power or money. 

I think we will see this side of Jasmine play a huge role in the novel as she continues to discover herself, as well as search for her mission from the Lord.  I’m not sure if she will find it ever, but it will be interesting to see how she looks at her actions as assignments from a greater power.