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. 

The cold-blooded murder of the young, conservative activist Charlie Kirk yesterday is a tragic reminder of the state of our nation. We must awake ourselves to the hard truth that confronts us: while our politics are broken, there is something much deeper and more profound happening in America. We face a cultural and human dilemma.

On this July 4th, patriotism is a difficult subject for many. Maybe you, too. If so, I hear you. After all, we live in a nation that can feel chaotic, confusing, even confounding—regardless of who you voted for in the last election. 

I was in Selma, AL, this past Sunday for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Now that the event has passed, the question that nags at me is this: Will the significance of Selma continue to hold our imagination, or will it subside back into our distant memory until another year passes?