My Reflection On Charlie Kirk’s Memorial and An American Revival
This weekend I watched Charlie Kirk’s memorial service alongside millions of other Americans. In the aftermath, President Trump’s remarks have dominated many of the headlines. But there is another story from this weekend we should pay attention to: the revival people clearly are seeking. The yearning was palpable.
With few exceptions, the memorial was framed in deeply religious terms—from the music to people’s remarks to the images. As a person of faith myself, I was struck by the sheer force of this public expression.
Of course, not everyone holds religious beliefs. But in my travels across this country I find practically everyone—religious or not—is in search of a kind of revival today. We suffer from a crisis of belief—in our institutions, our leaders, and in ourselves—and want to find something to believe in again.
We long to put this country on a more hopeful footing and trajectory.
But there is a danger here. Will a new culture war get waged over who owns this revival?
Will we as Americans continue to split along lines of faith, politics, or geography? Or can we create an American revival that makes room for everyone without forcing anyone to give up their dignity, identity, or personal beliefs?
Different awakenings have occurred throughout American history. Some religious, others more civic. At each pivotal moment, people from different walks of life bravely stepped forward to build on the good from the past while creating something new moving forward. We find ourselves at such an inflection point once more, on the verge of another potential awakening.
We desperately need an alternative to our divisive politics. It is why I am so adamant about the need for a new civic path today. Every day in communities all across our country, I bear witness to people of different beliefs, different political leanings, and different backgrounds, all getting on this new civic path and building together.
Join me. And let’s create a new American revival together.
