A dear friend lost her baby last month, and it was heartbreaking. So many of us wanted to show our support, but we could not be there in person. Instead, we took pictures of cakes to send to her; on the day of the funeral, we all had a cup of tea and sent those pictures. We all shared in that moment the pain and brutality of life, but also we all shared that moment together. Without the net, that would never have happened.
Talking to a friend last week, we were using his laptop as a way to keep our conversation going. We had access to images of what we were trying (and failing) to describe. We were together in person, and we were using technology to aid our conversation, rather than detract from it.
I think it is easy just to see the back of a screen, the covering that keeps all of the magic and mystery contained. There is so much life happening on the other side of it though. Right now, I'm typing this up with the laptop balanced on my lap, and in the next tab to this post I have my plan for the day. In a moment, I'll open Facebook and Huffington Post and catch up with my friends and the world; I might even have a conversation with some of my friends about things that are happening in the world. I'll probably spend some time watching TED Talks before I start studying. Anyone sitting in the same room as me will have no idea, because all they see are my hands moving across the keyboard, and the laptop on my lap. They will not see the screen I see.
The Internet and technology connects us in ways previously unimaginable. We can connect to almost anyone at any moment. We can share our pain with friends who have a place in hearts if not in our physical lives. We can do so much, bring about so many positive changes. We are doing these things. They are happening right now.
Isn't it amazing to think that one piece of technology, just the Internet, can help us do so much?
See you next Tuesday!
E