Five days after leaving my role at X, I received a text from a friend about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I didn’t know him personally, but his work had a significant impact on my time at X. Many people on the platform look up to him for his boldness and clarity. However, it seems that for every 100 aspiring individuals like him, very few can truly fill his shoes.
When I opened X on Wednesday afternoon, I was struck by the flood of posts asking for prayers. People were urging others to pray for Charlie, his family, and the nation. The calls for prayer were overwhelming, contrasting sharply with my memories from 2012, when discussions after the Sandy Hook tragedy shifted towards action rather than thoughts and prayers. Back then, I felt that simply sending thoughts and prayers was not enough.
This feeling resurfaced for me in 2021 after the Oxford High School shooting, which hit close to home. While prayers are important, I couldn’t help but think we needed real solutions to gun violence.
In light of recent events, Sheriff Mike Smith from Utah County emphasized the importance of prayer during a press conference, thanking the public for their positive thoughts. This made me reflect on the role of social media. While it can foster community and free speech, it often lacks nuance and can lead us to believe that online words hold more weight than they actually do.
Evil is often subtle and can disguise itself in many forms. The aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination serves as a reminder that even the best among us can struggle against it. Prayer, while it may seem powerless, can be one of the most effective responses to confront evil.
The influence of evil is pervasive, and it can strike unexpectedly. We are reminded of this through history, where tragic events have caught us off guard. In the wake of Kirk’s death, many are calling for prayer, urging us to seek strength in a time of turmoil.
Imagine a world where social media encourages us to take a moment of humility and prayer. This could be a powerful shift, leading us to find hope in vulnerability.
John D. Stoll, a writer based in Rochester, Michigan, has previously worked for the Wall Street Journal and recently held a position at X. His reflections on this topic highlight the ongoing need for both prayer and action in the face of adversity.
