Perhaps More Appropriate For The Political Board, But Please Indulge Me

Maybe I was always naive, but I grew up believing that freedom of speech was one of our most sacred political rights. That's the reason it is FIRST in our bill of rights. I believed that so long as you did not curse or defame another person, we could go at it like Roman Gladiators in the arena of ideas, and at the end of the day, at worst, we'd shake hands and agree to disagree. At best, maybe one of us would make a point or statement that caused us to think. maybe reevaluate, and draw us closer to one side or another.

If that was ever the case, it is clearly no longer true. The assassination of Charlie Kirk clearly proves that my (idealistic?) belief is false. I probably should have come to this realization already, as I have a cousin for whom this concept long ago "left the building." Because every family seems to have "that one relative," I had hoped he was a proverbial lone wolf, but sadly, he is not.

I'm very upset that a man who LOVED God, LOVED his wife, ADORED his children, and who LIVED to be a good father, and good husband, has been senselessly taken from this earth. And for what? Expressing his religious and political beliefs? Are love, faith, and steadfast beliefs so hard to face that people must kill it?

I hesitate to say this, but on days such as this one, part of me is glad that I've already lived the majority of my life, as it's hard to imagine this world becoming more evil than it is today. Yet I know that the worst is yet to come, and it TERRIFIES me to think of the world in which my 3 grandsons will attempt to live and exist. Though I know this won't happen, I'd volunteer to live for 200 years, and endure any amount of abuse and punishment, if I could somehow shield those 3 boys from the evil that will overtake this world.

Obviously I didn't know Mr. Kirk, but today's events have badly shaken me, and sleep will not come easily tonight. I know that my future is assured; I WILL one day be in God's Heaven, worshipping and praising him for all of eternity. But today tells me that the end of recorded time has never been closer. If that last day is tomorrow, are you ready?