The Silver Lining Unfolds With Revival

This project started with a problem statement about the current nature of western society: it's chaotic and divided. As if to prove this point, Charlie Kirk was assassinated two days later by a confused young man. This tragedy has preoccupied all of my spare mental cycles for the past two weeks.

Since September 10, I've had many challenging discussions both online and in-person. Given the enormity of this event, I suspect you have as well.

I'm shocked by two things:

1. Many people who consume their new information from legacy media or who live inside their own information bubble don't know that the assassin identified as left wing:

2. The ability of otherwise (seemingly) well-adjusted individuals to be dismissive of the death of a husband and father because they disagree with his politics. I spoke briefly about this point before.

Information/Filter Bubbles

The first point shouldn't surprise me too much. I've been aware of information/filter bubbles since Bruce Potter's ShmooCon keynote from the early 2010's (2010? 2011? 2012? My memory is failing me) where I first heard the term. He described the effect using Twitter as the enabling Social Media platform. Though I can no longer remember the date I heard this talk, it has guided my consumption of information ever since.

Since then, there has been much published about them, including warning about their negative effects on mental health and wellbeing.

The shock set in over these past two weeks as I realized that many people I hold in high esteem don't actually consume news. They only read headlines. They substitute headlines for actual news.

These headlines are crafted to appeal to our basest emotions and confirmation bias. Too many people assume the content of the news piece based on the headline and that's led to the demonization of ideas or people that may actually not be warranted.

And this is having devastating effects on discourse and unity at scale. It's not difficult to imagine a future in which it is nearly impossible for large swathes of citizens to communicate with one another. I fear we are already there, because of the

Widespread Celebration of Murder

I'm not sure how much I can add to the public discourse about this heinous topic. Filter bubbles or not, it's wrong to celebrate murder. Period.

I've certainly felt the pull and the desire for vengeance and retribution. But never murder. The number of people who have publicly stated they approve of what happened to Charlie Kirk is abhorrent. I suppose the public response to the murder of Brian Thompson last year should have roused my alarm.

If you somehow find yourself in this category, please stop and pray to God. Ask Him for healing and guidance.

Revival

There's been a third occurrence that has shocked me these past two weeks. Something incredible. Something that, as a Catholic who somewhat recently rediscovered his faith, sparks joy in my heart: Christian Revival is underway.

Starting shortly after Charlie's assassination, I've seen a marked increase in the number of social media posts of people who have either lapsed in their faith or had none at all have their interest piqued.

My favorite example is this gentleman:

Fr. Mike Schmitz has said "God writes straight with crooked lines" to describe how The Almighty can use our brokenness for His plan, and ultimately for good.

My heart aches for Charlie's wife and children. I've had a persistent lump in my throat for two weeks. Every time I hug my daughter or sons, I think of how his children won't ever get to hug their father again.

But, I think I see how God is using this horrific event for ultimate good in accordance with His plan and I thank Him. At Charlie Kirk’s memorial, Tucker Carlson described the presence of the Holy Spirit in that auditorium as “humming like a tuning fork” and rightly points out the way Christ teaches us to move forward: by acknowledging our own faults so that, with humility, we may forgive others.

In the end, perhaps this tragedy will serve as a catalyst for broader unity between us. Perhaps it will call more people to Jesus. Perhaps it will be the event that saved a civilization.

If you're moved by any of this, open a Bible today and begin reading. Let's offer our suffering up to Jesus and ask Him for healing. Let's examine our own conscience before condemning another. Let's revive the ethos of Christianity within ourselves and our communities and forgive one another so that we may be forgiven.