A Time of Transition and Forgiveness

The morning air greets me with a chill I have not felt in a while - a quiet signal that change is upon us.

A gentle breeze rustles through the trees, sending leaves drifting downward like a rustic snowfall, blanketing the ground in warm tones of brown, red, and yellow. The calendar now confirms what nature has already whispered: fall has officially arrived.

We are entering a season of transition - whether we welcome it or not. Winter is waiting in the wings, and with it comes a sobering reminder: change does not ask our permission.

What we see unfolding in nature is mirrored in the broader landscape of our nation. A time of transition is not only upon the earth but upon us all.

This past weekend, my wife and I joined millions around the world in watching the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. We felt compelled to participate in this national moment of reflection and mourning.

Let’s be honest - no one ever wants to attend a memorial for a 31-year-old husband and father of two. As I mentioned in a previous post, Charlie’s life was tragically cut short by an assassin’s bullet - a shock that still echoes deeply.

The service was immersed in worship, led by well-known Christian artists who ushered in a sacred atmosphere. The tone could be summarized in a single prayer: “Lord, we invite Your presence among us during this difficult time.”

On the network we watched, the commentators kept their words brief, continually drawing the focus back to the worship. You could sense that even they were drawn into the moment - that the music brought a measure of comfort as they remembered a friend and colleague now gone.

Following the worship service, tributes were offered by those who knew and loved Charlie Kirk best - his pastor, Turning Point USA staff, close friends, cabinet-level dignitaries, the Vice President, and even the President of the United States.

Each speaker shared deeply personal reflections on who Charlie was, what he meant to them, and how they believed God used his life to shape a generation.

None spoke more powerfully or eloquently than Erika Kirk - Charlie’s widow and the newly appointed CEO of Turning Point USA. Her words stood out as the most poignant, emotional, and transformative moments of the entire service.

As Erika stepped onto the stage, a quiet strength accompanied her. Quite honestly, God carried her.  She paused, taking in the weight of the moment and the thousands in the stadium who mourned alongside her. Whispering a brief prayer, she began to speak.

It was in the moments that followed that Erika's unwavering Christian faith came into full view. With raw honesty and grace, she shared that Charlie’s heart was always for reaching young men - even those like the one now charged with taking his life.

She said:

“Charlie Kirk wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.”

“Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ That young man… I forgive him,” Erika said. “I forgive him because it’s what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”

This act of forgiveness was a moment which transcended her grief.

You can watch Erika’s full remarks here.

Could it be that this one simple, brave act of forgiveness not only brought Erika the personal freedom she needed, but also marked a national moment - modeling, in real time, the redemptive power of grace and forgiveness?

My prayer is this - let it be so.

This is not about reducing Scripture to a cliché or using it to gloss over deep pain. God’s Word remains steadfast, alive, and active, especially in our hardest moments.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” ((Romans 8:28, NLT)

I can think of people and situations in my own life where forgiveness has not been easy.

Can you? Is there someone in your life who has been difficult to forgive?

Life can be heavy, and sometimes it feels impossible to even consider pulling into the parking space of forgiveness.

Here is the truth - while forgiveness blesses the one who receives it, it frees the one who offers it.

It breaks the toxic grip that bitterness holds and opens the door to healing.

If forgiveness is something you are struggling with, I encourage you to do what Erika did - ask God for the strength to let go.

To release. To forgive.

Only then will the season begin to shift, and a new chapter of healing and season of transition can begin.