My heart is hurting and I feel nauseous with grief over the death of Charlie Kirk today. It is surreal to have seen the update on social media about the shooting and then have people all over the world praying for him. Shortly thereafter to find out that his life here on earth was over. My head hurts from crying, my eyes are swollen and dehydrated, and my mind can’t seem to settle.

I never knew Charlie personally and I never saw him in person at an event. However over the past few years, our family has watched countless of his debate videos. We have followed his podcast and postings on social media. We were impressed with his passion and pursuit of what he believed in regards to his faith, family, and country. We respected him and learned from him and wondered what God had next for him!

And what God had next was Heaven!! Charlie was one of those people that just seemed to know his purpose from a young age. It takes some people a lifetime to figure it out. He was passionate about his pursuit in impacting a generation for God. He seemed tireless and accomplished so much that many of us could not fathom it. It is as though he lived 70 years of life in a short 31 years. And in many ways he did!

“If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas – not run away from them or try and silence them.” Charlie Kirk

It is an odd feeling to feel such grief over someone that you only knew of from a distance. I think it wakes each of us up to our own mortality. That we are just one breath away from transferring our residence from earth to Heaven. Instead of that scaring us, it should wake us up! Moments in time like we experienced today mark us to the point that we are never quite the same. We are not as glib, we are not as shallow, and we do not waste as much time. We see evil and the results of living in a fallen world and it brings so much pain. But with that pain is birthed a purpose!

I Thessalonians 4:13 – “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”