The Human Baton

[mercy 1]

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Ze Frank (any sports racers out there?), but his online community is currently working on a project that I want to share with Vjers...

Would you give a stranger a ride in your car? How about a meal or a place to sleep?

Nearly 300 people from cities across the United States and Canada are doing one or more of these acts of kindness for a particular stranger - who's a virtual friend - as they participate in the 2006-2007 Ze Fool Relay. Luke Vaughn, or RunningFool as he's known in the online community created by web pioneer Ze Frank, will traverse North America as the Human Baton. His journey began in Eugene, Oregon and will take him all the way to New York, N.Y. and back, relying solely on other online community members for transportation, food, and lodging.

You can read more about it here. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of all the positive aspects of VJ; every day we help one another, cheer for each other, feel happiness in others approvals and sadness in their denials, and yet we are, basically, strangers:

I’m hoping this is going to be something that will bring home to people that this kind of community is valid, and it’s useful, and that it can make a difference in people’s lives.

Can't say I'm part of this, other than being a well wisher and maybe a gift giver, so I thought I'd do my part in getting the word out.

[ChristinaM 0]

Were he coming up to Maine, I might have thought about it. Alas, t'was not to be.

[Nizzy 1]

One time I was on Devon street (Indian/paki neighborhood) and this old Indian guy came up to me and asked if I could please give him a ride to where he lived, which was a couple of blocks down. He said he had a bad knee and was not able to walk the rest of the way. I was with my mom, uncle, and grandma so I didn't see why not. He prayed for us the whole way and was so thankful. It depends on the situation and my instincts. My mom has done this for several people but you have to use good judgement.