Love burns

We are taught to read and write our language, to think mathematically and to understand our physical, intellectual and psychological selves. There are courses in many areas of the humanities and sciences.

But where are the courses on love? Is teaching love the job only for family? Is it learned by stumbling through life experiences? Is it the domain only of the religious or the spiritual?

We spend great amounts of time, energy and money addressing issues of crime, incarceration, addiction, sexual harm, religious discrimination and racism. This when a root cause is our failure to effectively engage the simple idea: Love one another.

I sometimes think the default characteristic of humanity is evil. Evil is easy and brings instant gratification, but in the end is only toxic. That is why love needs to be taught fiercely, relentlessly and with persistence. Not teen romance, not Hallmark Channel love, not flabby love, not sex-infused love among beautiful actors.

Not feel-good love that entertains the world, but love that burns through the evils of the world.