I wanted to write about an experience that changed my life, the Charlie Kirk memorial. I feel like a new man that was given a second chance to live. Let me give you some context. My family and I woke up at 7 AM to drive to the State Farm stadium to get some seats. Bear in mind, the memorial wasn’t starting until 11 AM – so we were showing up 3 hours early.
But by the time we arrived, there were over 100,000 people there. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, you forget how many human beings are on this planet sometimes. According to news reports, the entire stadium was filled by 7 AM. Because so many people decided to camp out and there were thousands in line by 3 AM.
I guess it’s easy to feel alone in our values and beliefs. And the media tries to sell us the lie that everyone is wicked and that the world is going to hell. But I was surrounded by thousands and thousands 0f people who were suffering alongside me. This was Arizona, it was 85 or so degrees. And I was in my sunday clothes, so I was becoming drenched in sweat. But it didn’t matter. I was gonna try and get my brothers and I into this stadium.
Long story short, we didn’t get in. But Turning Point USA had also reserved an overflow nearby where 30,000 people could fit.
When I sat down into that overflow, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Maybe this would be a trump ralley in disguise or some other agenda. But it was beautiful – every speaker talked about Jesus and celebrated the life of Charlie.
I felt the Spirit in a way that seemed to electrify me. You know that feeling when you hold your baby for the first time? I don’t. But I imagine – I felt the exact same way I’m going to feel one day when I hold my children for the first time. It felt like God Himself and His angels were standing in that overflow area. I haven’t felt the Spirt like that since my mission. It was pure love, energy – that everything was going to be ok.
I was devastated by the assassination of Charlie Kirk – it was so gruesome and violent. There was a video that circulated on Twitter where it actually showed the gore and blood of Charlie bleeding out from his neck. That image felt like it become branded to my soul. I couldn’t forget about it. And finally, this event was giving me some closure.
Most of this website wasn’t really created before I attended the Charlie Kirk memorial. But I had a change of heart and started questioning: Why haven’t I been living my life to my full potential? Why did I stop worshipping God? Why did I decide that all of 6 year old Matthew’s dreams were impossible? When did I give up?
Erika (the widow of Charlie Kirk) gave a beautiful speech that I will remember forever. She talked about real men and how we have a mantle from God to be good providers. And how we need to be leaders worth following and lead our families to Jesus. Oh man, the way she talked about marriage was everything I’ve ever wanted. How Charlie would write her a love note every Saturday and how much they worshipped God together.
She mentioned that Charlie was an avid journaler and he loved recording thoughts. And it made me think, why am I not documenting my life? And then it hit me, I knew exactly why I wasn’t… my life sucked. There wasn’t anything note worthy to document. Haha you can’t exactly go on and on about how amazing your sandwich was or how your group home job was going.
But then I thought, why can’t I document my gym journey, Toastmaster speeches, my marketing work for my dad, daily scripture thoughts, etc? Documenting and putting yourself out there is scary. Because what if everyone see’s you fail and realizes you’re a fraud? That you’re just another wanna-be kid that is all talk?
Well… that is scary. But I realized something at the Charlie Kirk memorial, it’s much scarier to have never lived in the first place. Maybe no one ever watches me fail, but is that better than never trying in the first place?
Charlie opened my eyes to a few things. I say a lot of things, but am I backing them up with my words? I say I want to be a father one day, but am I putting in the work necessary to be a great father? How can I be a great leader to others, when I can’t lead myself right now?
You get the point, the memorial was beautiful and changed my entire life. One thing that Erika said, “Every decision makes a mark on our souls.”
Right now. Man to man, my soul is hurting. But I’m going to put in the work to fix things. To get my relationship right with God. To start expanding my career. To becoming a better public speaker. Learning how to debate the important life issues of life.
I’m going to spam you with some of my favorite quotes from the memorial. I’m not going to credit who said what… because I’m not sure! I just wrote down a bunch of random quotes in my notes app on my phone. But there were some fantastic speakers: Erika Kirk, President Trump, Vice President Vance, Marco Rupio, Ben Carson, Benny, Tucker and others.
But I can say this, one day I’ll tell my kids about Charlie Kirk. I will not let his sacrifice go in vain.
“If you really believe in freedom, you need to fight for it.”
“If you want to grow, you have to suffer.”
“Study the founding of America. In those places, you will find that there is a leadder that goes to God. You will find that in the Bible, the classics, etc.”
“True freedom is not found in doing whatever you want, but following Jesus.”
“Courage does not require talent, just saying yes. Courage is a daily choice.”
“Charlie loved God more than He loved safety.”
“Our rights come from the Creator and not from government.”
Book: The Naked Communist
“You can’t be the land of the free, if you’re not home of the brave.”
“The United States is the greatest country in the world.”
“When someone dies, the hole in your heart doesn’t get smaller. You grow and become a better person and the hole gets smaller proportionally.”
“The Bible says over a hundred times to fear not.”
“Be a leader worth following.”
“You are your wife are one flesh working together for te glory of God.”
“Everything you do flows from your heart.”
“I tried to do everything I could to make our home a sacred place for Charlie.”
“Charlie’s mission is my mission. We are Charlie Kirk.”
One sentiment that was shared quite a bit was the idea of us being Charlie Kirk. This assassin may think they silenced Charlie and his beliefs on conservatism. But all he did was make his message and voice louder. It’s my job now to carry on the torch and continue on the fight.
One way I want to start doing that is by creating a Tiktok account where I do research and make claims on what I feel is true. Whether that be about abortion, stocks, small government – whatever. I want to start defending my beliefs and not being a wallflower.
One thought I loved: Stephen (from the Bible) and Charlie were the same age when they were killed. As people were stoning Stephen to death, Saul watched the entire thing happen and actually commissioned his death. But his heart was changed from Stephen’s death and he became one of the greatest Christians to ever proclaim the name of Jesus.
There are probably many Saul’s who watched the death of Charlie Kirk and they had a changing of heart. Where they suddenly wanted to learn more about the values and principles that Charlie stood for… about God and conservatism.