Charlie Kirk’s Lifelong Quest for Learning

I wish I could remember when Charlie Kirk hit my radar; my best guess is 3 or 4 years ago. I remember marveling how intelligent he was - inherently so, because of his ability to speak with such clarity.

But it was also apparent he was well-read. I assumed he had attended college until I learned he was publishing a book, The College Scam, about the uselessness of most college degrees. I was surprised to learn that Charlie had never attended college.  What?? By then, I’d done a 180 on my position on a college education and agreed with him completely that it was very often a waste of money. But then there he was, with a knowledge of classical writers which seemed quite extensive. How had he learned all this without attending college?

As I continued to listen to him talk to college kids across the country, I continued to be amazed at both his depth and breadth of understanding of what would be considered a classical liberal arts education - the kind that’s getting harder and harder to find in a modern university setting anymore.

How did this young man get to a place of such solid understanding of the Bible? Natural law? How did he refer to Sir Thomas Aquinas or James Madison or Cicero - their ideas at the ready in his mind the way someone like me might keep lesser ideas at the ready - like lyrics to Eagles or Tom Petty songs, or great one-liners from MASH or Seinfeld?

Then I heard Larry Arnn speak at Charlie’s memorial, and suddenly, I got it.

Dr. Larry Arnn is the president of Hillsdale College, one of the last bastions of higher learning that offers an authentically classical liberal arts education.

The word liberal used to describe a person who entertained all ideas with liberality, unafraid of any of them, because all who debate them have only one goal - to determine what is truth, and discard everything else.

Everyone in such a debate is unconcerned about winning or jockeying for power. No one cares who is right, only about what is right. As the word university - one truth - suggests - those in such a debate recognize that the true winner is truth.

Idealistic much?

Dr. Arnn recounted a conversation with Charlie, grilling him as he might an incoming freshman at Hillsdale. Charlie didn’t know much then, and Dr. Arnn related that Charlie recognized it, and humbly asked what he could do about it.

Dr. Arnn suggested he get to know the Bible thoroughly, and then to work through classical writers and the American founding. When they parted, Dr. Arnn said he never expected to hear from this kid again.

Interestingly, Dr. Arnn used the word “suffer” as he spoke of what would be required of Charlie to become a man of learning.

He said he would have to suffer into the night and at the crack of dawn, suggesting the legitimate suffering of discipline.

He said he would have to suffer in connection with studying and thinking, suggesting that to really grow and learn, there is actual effort against our unruly brains - which quite enjoy hanging out in the huge nothing box compartment in our brains far too often, and far too long.

One month later, Charlie had managed to get a hold of Dr. Arnn’s contact information, and texted him a screen shot of his first certificate of completion - from one of the many Hillsdale courses available free online.

Dr. Arnn told how Charlie went on to complete THIRTY-ONE courses - a truly Herculean task, academically speaking. I’ve wanted to work my way through them myself, but… life, ADD, yada, yada, yada….  Meagerly, I have completed one.

This entire short speech moved me deeply, but my tears renewed when Dr. Arnn spoke directly to Mrs. Erika Kirk to tell her that Hillsdale was awarding an honorary posthumous degree to Charlie at their spring commencement in 8 months.

Honorary, indeed.

And then Dr. Arnn used the word suffer one last time when he said, “Charlie has suffered enough. He has gone to the Lord; he has earned his reward."

Dr. Arnn very skillfully and subtly - almost subliminally - acknowledged two beautiful truths:

- He intimated that true learning involved suffering. He may as well have said that Charlie had learned enough in his 31 short years, and had earned the right to go home.

- He further intimated that his posthumous honor of a Hillsdale degree paled beside his eternal reward of having served the Savior well in those 31 years.

Charlie may have learned enough to go home, but I continue to mourn the loss of such a valiant spirit. I mourn for the empty arms of his family and loved ones. He lived his life in such a way that all who followed him - watching in awe as he unapologetically spoke truth with respect - feel that emptiness ourselves, even if we’ve never met him.

I dearly wish Charlie were still here to continue to teach those of us who admired and respected his ability to articulate truth, to draw on it so readily, to share it with no didactic posturing, but with the authority of one who has done the homework of suffering for the knowledge. But Dr. Arnn left us with a huge clue as to how to live life the way Charlie did - with humility, and discipline, and with commitment to suffer in order to study, to think, and to learn.

Since Charlie’s death, so many have said, “We are all Charlie.” If that is true, Dr. Arnn suggested our marching orders: make a sacrifice to learn.

When I consider what my church teaches about God and His plan for His children, this is the only way we’ll feel at home in His presence - if we’ve developed a capacity and love of learning. If it is so, Charlie is terribly at home right now: "No more a stranger, or a guest, but like a child at home." (My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, Isaac Watts)

Thank you to Dr. Arnn - for teaching this to Charlie - and thank you to Charlie - for showing us what it looks like to make learning a lifestyle. The fruit of this kind of suffering is beautiful and delicious.