By Ron Hutchcraft
I'm writing this on September 11. Twenty-four years ago today, I watched on television as the Twin Towers crumbled to dust. Twenty-four hours ago, I saw the shocking assassination of a hugely popular Gen Z influencer in front of 3,000 people.
In both cases, millions were devastated in disbelief and grief. Including reporters, politicians, law enforcement spokesmen - and lots of ordinary folks. And while the scope of the 2001 tragedy was clearly greater, the trauma of yesterday's assassination hit many young people very personally.
Watching the tears of others yesterday, I found myself praying again what I cried out to God 24 years ago. "God, what do You see here?"
The answer was the same both times.
Souls.
Lost souls. Grieving souls. Eternal souls.
I've worked with young people my entire adult life. And as years have gone by, I've seen many of them become less and less engaged with their world and with current events.
Many of them know tons about Taylor Swift's love life but can't find Ukraine on a map or tell you the name of the Vice President. But they were drawn to Charlie Kirk, who was dedicated to involving them in major issues of our time.
A prime time CNN host said yesterday: "If you don't know who Charlie Kirk is, ask your teenager or your college student."
Kirk was, in a sense, a generational prophet to many of them. He had over 5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter) and hundreds of thousands of listeners to his podcast and radio program. Observers characterize many of today's young people as disconnected. But they connected with Charlie Kirk.
To countless millions of young people, he was finally a voice they felt they could trust. Suddenly, he was gone.
For me, this isn't about Charlie Kirk's politics or culture war perspectives.
It is, of course, about his wife Erika and their two children. I know "the Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18) and she's clearly expressed her relationship with Him. I pray Jesus will envelope them in His strong and comforting arms.
I do see what God showed me on that dark September 11 years ago. Those souls. The emotional outpouring that floods social media now gives testimony to the deep sense of personal loss so many young people are feeling today.
After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there was a hole in our hearts that none of our usual "go to" answers could fill. So we turned to God. Churches were full. Prayer was everywhere. Many finally opened their hearts to the Savior who died for them and beat death by His Resurrection.
For many contemporary young people, yesterday's loss has left their own hole in their heart.
That's where it's about "souls." This trauma will be, for many, a "turning point." For some, to anger, retribution, disillusionment, despair. All destinations devoid of hope.
Or to Jesus. Whose hope is stronger than death, guaranteed by an empty tomb.
We are desperate for a generation that doesn't carry all the baggage we have or suffer from the angry poison we've consumed. A spiritual awakening may well be our only real hope. And our young people may be our only real hope of a better tomorrow. I'm praying the death of a looked-to leader may lead them to the Leader whose life and hope are eternal.
Jesus called us in life to tell our world about His unloseable love - and to let them experience that love through us.
At the unforgettable Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, there is a simple but profound exchange between the honor soldier coming on duty and the one leaving.
For some 75 years, every guard leaving has said, "Orders remain unchanged." To which, the new guard salutes and responds, "Orders acknowledged."
Two thousand years ago, Jesus gave a band of disciples His final orders: "You shall be My witnesses" (Acts 1:8).
No matter the loss, no matter the cost. Orders remain unchanged.