WHEN I FIRST SAID to someone last Wednesday, “Charlie Kirk has been shot!” their response was, “Who is Charlie Kirk?” Unless you have kids or young adults in your family, you may not have known.

However, in the week since his assassination, virtually everyone in America knows who Charlie is. Whether you like him and what he stood for or not, he stands out as a follower of Jesus, a young Christian man who changed the world by embracing open and free public discourse, be it moral, political, spiritual, or whatever, especially among teens and 20–30 somethings, and who, in the end, was martyred for it.

I CO-LEAD A FORUM, one of a number of businessmen’s and women’s groups known as C3 Leaders. I have been with these guys on Wednesday mornings at 7 o’clock for 18 years. We have aged together, now 60+ Christian businessmen—and one preacher. Today, 13 of the 18 of were online, and the question posed was, “what have we learned from Charlie Kirk, how has it affected us, and where do we go from here? What will be our legacy?

What did Charlie say to catch the attention of a group of “old guys” who were not his primary target audience. One thing was for sure: we had all been watching, listening, at least for the last eight days.

ONE GUY STARTED out by saying, “I want to a good grandpa to my 12 grandchildren.” A noble goal, we agreed, and it went from there.

Another spoke of the need for true metanoia (a word meaning the change in one’s way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion). Then another spoke of needing a “passion for truth” and skill with questions that show we love and care.

Build bridges that cross the neighborhood street, and the church or political aisle. Listen well. Demonstrate the true love and caring spirit of Jesus even when we have little in common at first. “I don’t want to be left, right, or even middle,” said one man. “I just want to live like Jesus.”

To have a heart receptive and thankful that is tuned to God’s wisdom and ways.The courage to surrender to God’s purposes, plans and outcomes.

A joyful spirit that is attractive and compelling regardless of whom I am with.

“Be a good Grandpa to my 12 grandchildren” (same grandpa said it again; I think there’s a chance he’ll be good at it, don’t you?)

Do not hide the light.

Someone said, “Stay in touch with my cross every day.” He was referring to what Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV.

The cross symbolizes a life of daily self-surrender, prioritizing God’s plans and teachings above personal comfort, ambitions, and preferences, embracing the difficulties that come with faithfully living for Christ. Self-denial, surrender, genuine commitment, the decision to daily follow Jesus, whatever the cost. That is “One Big Beautiful Cross,” don’t you think?

So whether you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, I have to say, Charlie is a young man who has made a group of “old guys” think, who gave us courage, who treated us fairly, and who left us too soon.

God bless Charlie’s family. And God bless America.

May Jesus keep us close.