Sir Ernest Shackleton was a celebrated explorer during the first part of the 20th century. In his writings he describes some of the tasks he and his companions faced in preparing to return from an expedition to the South Pole. They knew they would have to leave some possessions behind. He writes that he was profoundly impressed with the things his companions considered important, as contrasted with the things they threw away.   For example, they took their money out their pockets and left it behind. Even food knapsacks they threw away. What they did not leave behind were pictures of loved ones and letters from home. These they carried with them.

Today we want to talk about love—the kind of love that caused those explorers to leave behind material things and cling to pictures and letters f…