Charlie Kirk was on the list for my Heroes series, along with many others I haven't yet written about. Now anything I write is an obituary.
Young, brilliant, and bold, one of his favorite activities was to speak on college campuses, often with an open microphone for students to argue with him and ask questions. I've watched a number of his interactions, and he always seemed calm, polite, well-informed, and verbally on point. He also seemed genuinely to enjoy interacting with the students. I've also heard him in speak in interviews and on podcasts (never in person) and been similarly impressed.
No one knows anything yet about the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but to all appearances, "assassination" is the correct term for this event.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what heroism is, and just what constitutes being brave. It's now more obvious than ever that taking an unpopular message onto college campuses—straight into the lion's den—takes courage of the highest order.
There's no doubt in my mind that Charlie has already received his "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"; it's his wife and young children who need our prayers now.
Requiescat in pace.
(It has been a days of highs and lows. Right now the lows have left me stunned and sad, which is doing no one any good. Time to take George MacDonald's advice: Heed not thy feelings; do thy work.)
