There are moments in the life of a nation when an event occurs so profound, so consequential, that we cannot help but stop and take notice. Such is the case with the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk—a political activist and devout man of faith—who was gunned down while speaking at a college event in Utah on Wednesday, September 10th, 2025.

As we at Painted Arrow have reflected on the gravity of this moment, it became clear that we would be remiss not to pause and engage in a deeper conversation—one about life and death, and about the condition of the country we all cherish.

This is not a political statement. This is a reflection on humanity itself, and on what it truly means to be one nation—whether united or divided.