Love Lost

Are we more likely to hate than to love?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48

Love should be easier than hate.  

We should be more likely to come together and embrace one another like children do than to want to fight one another.  Why isn't that so?

Is love an instinct and hatred a learned trait?

I remember as a child being introduced to relatives who were older and strange looking.  The first thing I did was look at the faces of mom and dad to see how comfortable I should be when Aunt SoAndSo pinched my cheek.

They are our guides, our parents.  They show us the way to act among strangers.  Can we trust them?  Do we hug them?  Are they OK to be left alone with?

Today, young parents are afraid.

They don't trust anyone, from clergy to cops, teachers to doctors.  All are suspect.  All may harm their children.

So, maybe we have lost our ability to love, never mind loving our enemies.

I think we need a day of love, a day when we take a break from hate and embrace one another with trust and no fear.

Could we survive that?  Just one day?

Could we have a moratorium on hatred for just one day?

If we are too fearful to try, what does that say for our future?

More to come...