A Call for Us as a People

Energy is just that, but how it is utilized can be for positive or negative reasons.

Slow to Anger, Quick to Forgive

In a world already drowning in conflict, frustration, and division, the last thing we need is to add more fuel to the fire. Hate has become too common—so common that it sometimes feels like the default setting. But here’s the truth: being slow to anger, choosing patience over pettiness, forgiveness over grudges, and love over resentment is not weakness. It’s strength, discipline, and healing all rolled into one.

The Cost of Anger

Anger is natural, yes. But living in anger is destructive. It poisons the mind, exhausts the body, and drains the spirit. Many of us don’t even realize how much energy it takes to stay mad at someone. To hold a grudge is to keep feeding a fire that only burns us from the inside. Think about it: the same amount of energy it takes to hate could be redirected into love, creativity, or building something that lasts. One path leaves you bitter. The other leaves you better.

Believing the Best in People

Too often, we assume the worst in others. A sideways look, a late response, a misinterpreted tone—and suddenly we’ve created an entire narrative about someone’s intentions. That’s wasted energy. What if, instead, we chose to believe the best? What if we gave people the same grace we hope they would extend to us? Choosing not to be easily offended doesn’t mean ignoring disrespect, but it does mean refusing to live in constant suspicion and negativity.

The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not about letting someone “get away” with something. It’s about freeing ourselves from the weight of resentment. Carrying bitterness only slows us down. Forgiving quickly doesn’t erase the hurt, but it stops that hurt from having control over our lives. People who forgive easily become people who can move forward, build together, and resist being torn apart by small differences.

Why It Matters for Us

As a people—especially those of us descended from generations who’ve already carried heavy burdens—we cannot afford to add more chains by choosing anger over understanding. The world already places enough obstacles in front of us. Why create more barriers within ourselves or between each other? Imagine the strength we’d have if we put as much energy into building each other up as we sometimes do, tearing each other down.

Choosing the Better Energy

Love and hate demand the same amount of energy, but the results are worlds apart. Love heals. Love inspires. Love creates space for growth. Hate, on the other hand, destroys everything it touches—including the person holding onto it. We have the choice every day: to let our hearts be heavy with anger or to let our spirits rise with love.

Being slow to anger and quick to forgive isn’t about ignoring the real struggles and injustices in this world. It’s about protecting our peace, refusing to let negativity define us, and setting the standard for how we move as a people. We deserve joy. We deserve unity. We deserve love. And the only way to make that real is to practice it—starting with ourselves.