There are few times in our lives when an event happens that is so significant that we will always remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news…but I believe that September 10th will go down in history as one of those events.
Of course, we all remember the moment we heard about the planes crashing into the twin towers on 9-11. And for some strange reason, I can remember where I was when Barach Obama was strolled out on stage at the Democratic National Convention back in 2004. It was weird because I knew (and know) next to nothing about politics, and I wasn’t even really watching the television…I was actually just on the floor stretching, when I looked at the TV and saw this man on the screen being applauded and praised. For some reason, I had an ominous feeling about him, even though, as I said, I knew nothing about politics.
I am mentioning this seemingly random memory because it is reminding me (in the opposite way), of my reaction to the news of Charlie Kirk’s murder on September 10th. Truthfully, I didn’t even know the name, “Charlie Kirk“. I think I had heard of him, but had not followed him and knew nothing about him. But, I was sitting on my side porch swing, with my dad and my husband, when I saw a message from Kristin Hawkins of Students for Life, saying that her friend, Charlie Kirk, was just shot on a college campus, while he was doing a speaking engagement. For some reason, I looked at the statue of the Blessed Mother that was right in front of me, and with sudden tears welling up in my eyes, I prayed that God would spare his life, if it be His Will. I was surprised by the sudden welling of emotion for someone that I didn’t know. A short time later, I saw the email that said he had died, and I began to look into his ministry and watch his videos. It was then that I discovered what an amazing treasure was stolen from us on September 10th.
I don’t think I am alone in my discovery. It seems that many people are watching his videos, now that his voice has been silenced. It seems that his message of the need to follow Jesus Christ has only been magnified exponentially by his murder. People who have fallen away from Christianity, or who have never been a Christian…are making decisions to read the Bible and go to Church. People who have never prayed are praying now.
It seems that something very significant has happened in our nation…and hopefully in our world!
As I watched some of Charlie’s memorial service yesterday, looking at the stadium that was jam-packed…and especially watching his widow forgive the young man who killed her husband…through tears, I thanked God for what I was seeing. Is this the revival that we have been praying for? For so many years…we have been praying that God would have mercy on America and forgive us for the shedding of the innocent blood of over 60 million babies. We have been praying for the day that our nation would turn from its wicked ways, and turn back to God, so that that He can heal our land.
Is this what is happening? I pray that it is is.
Just as Charlie intensely packed 60 years of life into a 31 year old lifespan…we will pack 6 months worth of prayer, fasting and peaceful witness into a 40 day time period, during these fall 40 Days for Life. (And we will pack the other 6 months into our Lenten campaign.) Charlie was intense, and he was focused. That is what we will be.
It is also significant that we bring our Lord, Jesus Christ, in His very REAL presence in the Blessed Sacrament, to the darkest place in our city. We will be doing it tomorrow at our Kick off Event. I hope you will join us. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
AND CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR VIGIL! We especially need help on Friday from 1-3pm, Saturday 1-3pm and Sunday 1-3pm.
Thank you for being part of 40 Days for Life during this fall campaign. We are doing it for Charlie.