This is not news.
Peas are taking over twitter.com. A large group of users on Twitter currently have images of peas somewhere in their profile pic. And unless you know what’s going on you’d probably be caught off guard by the presumed legume-loving crowd therein.
In fact, the peas are there as a sign of solidarity. They are to support one twitter user, Susan Reynolds, who today will undergo surgery and have a breast removed. In short, she has used a bag of frozen peas to ease the pain associated with her breast cancer diagnosis. In more ways than one. She’s posted a bit to her blog this morning.
I’m about to lose it right now as I type. The fact that hundreds of social network geeks like me would take the time to edit their online identity in support of someone they’ve never met in real life is overwhelmingly cool to me. See the cumulative effect on Susan’s twitter page here. Spontaneous support blogs and fund-raising efforts have kicked into gear–all in the short span of time since December 5 when Susan decided she might need to see a doctor.
But, like I said, this is not news. Lots of people know about this. I just wanted to share it with my little circle of friends.
And I want to encourage you to live less anonymously–whether it’s in real life or whether it’s online. It doesn’t mean you have to trust everyone who asks for your credit card or social security number. Just don’t hide from your neighbors. Know and be known.
Too often we seek refuge from the very thing that we need.
Please take a second to pray for Susan today.
Popularity: 22% [?]
December 21st, 2007 at 11:17 am
Thanks for this message, Jeff. Timely and true. A constant struggle, to open up enough to be helped and to help others. It takes a lot of courage. This may be the most important part of loving our neighbors… to stop hiding from them.
Looking forward to seeing your gig Saturday night.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Thanks for the comment, Russ. I’ll look forward to seeing you Saturday. Please say hello.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Jeff,
Thanks for posting this. Somehow in the midst of being wrapped up in myself and my own concerns, I missed this, even as a Twitter devotee. I appreciate that you took the time to pass the story along. Here’s to living life transparently and having the courage to let others truly know us.
See you tomorrow,
Brandon
December 21st, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Thanks for saying that Brandon. I noticed it a week ago and figured everyone must already know about it. Cool story.
See you tomorrow!
J