“The Power of Prayer”
Posted by micaelaperkins410 on February 5, 2013
One of the first ideas that came to mind concerning “spreadability” would have to be a news story recently written on a friend of mine. A student at WKU, he was badly burned, and taken to Vanderbilt Hospital, a few days after Thanksgiving, this past year. Since that night, his mother decided to update her Facebook with news on his improvements, his struggles, everything to do with his situation, and asking all her followers for one thing: prayer. With spreadability, many of her friends shared her posts, they were sent out all around Facebook, Twitter, and not shortly after her first post, thousands of people were reaching out and praying for her son. This “circulation of content” was the kick she needed to get her prayers, and with each new post, there were more prayers made.
Now I’m not going to make this a church sermon, though I do want you do now how remarkably well my friend improved. His recovery was something the doctors and nurses had never witnessed before, they were all astounded with how well he was doing. Long story short, with all of this spreadability, all started by my friend’s mom, this “power of prayer” story reached it’s way to Fox 17 News in Nashville, and they interviewed him, and his family all about his story and how the prayers they received through social media, really did help them in their time of need.
Spreadability can be a great thing.
classypassi said
This is a remarkable story and recovery. Spreadability is simply that– connecting to others, reaching out and sharing information. And in this case, I am glad that the prayer had spread to save his life. The best comparisons are ones you can relate to with your own experiences.
samford said
We talked some in class the other day about the view that online communications might distance people from their actual community, etc. This is an example of how sometimes quite the opposite happens, and how communities come together to offer up their love and support to others in time of need. I see this happen very informally on Facebook everyday, as temporary, localized networks are formed to help provide support to the families of the victim of a car crash, or news that someone has an illness, or that someone has lost their job, or whatever “moment of need” may have arisen. Are any of you familiar with Lane Goodwin and Dalton Dingus, two terminally ill children who have since passed away but who were the focus of online campaigns to generate support around them in the past few months? See a story I wrote for Fast Company on this: “What Happens When Acts of Kindness Go Social?”: http://www.fastcompany.com/3004408/what-happens-when-acts-kindness-go-social
ivanaclay said
As someone who regularly asks for prayer for friends and family via social networking I believe this to be one of the most positive aspects of our advances in technology. We get so used to hearing the negatives that come from social media that it is easy for people to forget that good can come from it as well. I followed the Lane Goodwin and the “thumbs up for Lane” campaign closely on Facebook and it served as a daily reminder to me that those of us that are healthy or have healthy children should be thankful for what we have. Although Lane passed away he is still an inspiration to others battling the disease that they could also be an inspriration to others through their fight. I have also seen the remarkable sense of community that can develop and be uplifting to people in desperate times through the power of social media. It is a ray of a sunshine that can be cast on what can sometimes turn into a place to complain or voice more negative opinions!
daniellecraig462 said
I really like this example. Although I do think that social networking sites can cause a lot of harm, when it is used in the right way it can truly be a positive thing. Keeping friends and family updated on their personal lives, their needs for prayer or advise, or advertising their newest ideas. It’s good to see that Facebook was able to spread the word for prayer and your friend has made progress!
andyarnoldpopculture said
Social networking sites are a double-edged sword. Whether or not one believes in the power of prayer (for the record, I do), that story should at least bring a smile to the faces of jaded social media-ites. More support and prayers for the burned student’s condition were able to be achieved – more people knew about him and cared about him enough to pray, cared to spare him a few thoughts. To me, this is truly inspiring and proof that Facebook isn’t all terrible.