What Charlie Kirk Taught Me: The Power of Listening and Remembering My Roots
At my father’s funeral, my uncle talked about roots. He talked about how my father grew a family that had roots and that “roots are good!” I have been thinking a lot about roots this week as the world lost Charlie Kirk. Most of what Charlie talked about was biblically based and my own roots are from the Bible. My parents raised me in the Word. Charlie advocated for that Word.
I didn’t know everything about Charlie Kirk. I never met the man. I remember when the social media revolution happened and I was wild about the connections it brought me, one being Charlie. As an early adapter to technology, I found myself amongst forward thinkers much of which were liberal leaning. But not Charlie. He was different.
During that era in my life, I learned to listen, unpack what I heard, and dive into what I believed. I quickly learned that I can’t take everything I read online as truth and that group think is a huge issue online. Being an individualist who stands up against evil is a hard thing. I have compassion for Charlie. If you know my story you know that I, as well as Charlie, stand for what is right.
When Covid hit someone said to me, “I am looking forward to the enlightenment period that will follow” and I wish I would have said to them, in that moment, that the enlightenment period had already occurred. It happened before. Technology blossomed and communication flourished during the social media revolution. I could now find the friend from 3rd grade or talk with the Aunt that had left our family years before. With all of the connections, the control of the narrative had been disrupted. “Old Media” was flipped on its head. To me, Covid was an event that led to people fighting over different beliefs, disconnecting, unfriending those 3rd grade friends because they disagreed with you, and fighting took over our timelines. It was hard to listen and learn during that time. Many people swore off socials forever and social platforms usage declined. People gave up and stopped communicating with the other side.
But not Charlie Kirk. He was determined to continue the conversation while he also shared his convictions and his love for the country. This week I found myself reflecting on a simple but profound lesson from those early days of the social media revolution: the power of listening to different perspectives.
I have followed Charlie for years. I even watched as his views changed. We are all growing and Charlie was no different. Listening doesn’t mean agreeing. It means being willing to hear someone’s story, to consider their experiences, and to let their words sit with you and perhaps challenge or refine your own thinking. But, I have come to know that if you aren’t grounded in your own life you will lose the life you had. It’s so easy to be swept away into an alternate universe of thinking.
Hearing Charlie Kirk speak reminded me of something my parents instilled in me early on. Character is formed in conversation, even when it’s uncomfortable. Growing up, my mom and dad taught me to hold strong convictions but to hold them with grace. They encouraged me to ask questions, to understand before reacting, and to remember that people with different backgrounds often carry different experiences.
In a time when so many conversations are reduced to soundbites or social media arguments, pausing to truly listen feels almost countercultural. But Charlie did that. He didn’t just advocate from behind the keyboard. He carried the conversation to campuses and looked eye to eye with who he was talking to. I realized that the voices I sometimes disagree with can teach me the most, not because they change my core beliefs, but because they sharpen them. In each video I saw with Charlie, I saw humans. Charlie reminded me of my neighbors, parents, but overall the citizen I want to be: humble, curious, willing to learn, educated with statistics, but also willing to stand for the roots instilled in him through the Bible, and have convictions.
Charlie’s talk wasn’t just about civil rights, it was about the country and the people that filled it. He loved his family and while I don’t believe everyone was meant to get married and have babies, he nudged me to remember the beauty of the family unit God designed. He was part of a nudge to get back to my roots, to the values my parents modeled, respect for others, gratitude for freedom, and a faith that calls me to love even when it’s hard(even if I have to love from a distance).
Our family van growing up, could have carried both a Bush and Clinton bumper sticker. My parents didn’t always agree on political things.(actually they rarely agreed yet somehow they were married for 42 years) My parents taught me to feel less defensive and more determined to build bridges instead of walls. My parents had an array of friends and I would overhear their occasional conversations. Sometimes those friends talked politics with my Dad and Mom. There was never fighting between the friends and my parents. There was disagreement with respect and always ALWAYS lots and lots of love.
My parents(and their friends taught me) listening well is not a weakness. It’s courage. And it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to heal divisions, grow in wisdom, and honor the values that shaped us. Charlie reminded me of that too.
Charlie wasn’t perfect, I am certain. I didn’t agree with him on everything. But, I respected him enough to listen and then THINK FOR MYSELF. I am thankful for Charlie that prompted and taught me to dive into the Bible and research to know where I stand. I will miss him.
While some are using Charlie’s death to push gun reform(which I am not against-read more here) the conversation needs to be deeper. If The United States of America no longer has the ability to hold a society where personal beliefs can be expressed, then the United States will crumble and loose its very best fundamental and endearing quality.
May freedom of speech always be part of the fabric that is the United States. May speaking your beliefs never be extinguished. Some people will speak up no matter what the risk. Just like Charlie, I am willing to be one of those.