We are All Connected - Church at the DinerThis is a story of how we are all connected. This supernatural encounter happened at a local diner. Robert and I sing in our church choir, and we had a rare Sunday off. We decided to skip church and sleep in. Robert suggested we go out for breakfast at one of our favorite places, Spencer’s Grill. Little did I know that I would experience church that morning sitting on a bar stool instead of a pew.

Ten years ago I lived in a little rental house. My neighbor’s wife died of cancer. She owned a bookstore that focused on spirituality. After she passed, her husband had a yard sale. A huge part of what he was selling off were hundreds of books and audio tapes. I made out like a bandit, buying up books and cassettes (remember those?) for just a few dollars. One book I purchased was A Course in Miracles.

I was fascinated by this 600 plus page book because I had heard so many spiritual teachers quote from its text. After acquiring it, I dove right in eager to devour the message. But, to be honest, it didn’t resonate with me. I found it extremely difficult to comprehend. Ten years later, however, I have picked it up again. Since I’ve learned the power of practicing to be still, its message is speaking to me in a profound way.

As of this writing, I am not quite half way through the book. But summing up what I’ve learned is that we have two choices to make. We can choose fear or we can choose love and that we are all connected. When we choose love, we can also be healed from past hurts and experience wholeness. Healing always produces harmony. I am reminded of 1 John 4:16-21:

So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. The commandment we have is this; those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

I had just read about healing, harmony and how we are all connected when the lesson came to life at Spencer’s.

By the picture, you can tell that Spencer’s is the classic, little, neighborhood diner. It is under new ownership. There are freshly painted, bright, red doors and new red bar stools and booth seating. The counter is new with retro formica of gray, black and red shapes.

Robert and I took a seat in front of the cook’s station at the counter. We ordered our usual number three – two eggs over easy, extra crispy bacon and for Robert, extra crispy hash browns.

The single cook had been replaced by two cooks. They stood side by side and worked in perfect harmony. I was watching them cook. The eggs were frying, the bacon was frying, hash browns were frying. One of the cooks cleared a place on the crowded grill and poured two perfect circles of pancake batter to form two pancakes.

The entire place took on a mystical quality. I didn’t leave my body, but I observed as the cooks worked, the food was sizzling and dozens of conversations were swirling around me. I was in a bubble of sorts, observing everything going on in the diner at once. I would describe it as experiencing perfect harmony. It was a mystical, magical connection to everyone and everything in the diner all going on simultaneously.

As if in a trance, I continued to focus my attention on one of the cooks. He cooked the bacon extra crispy, keeping a watchful eye and putting a weight on top of it to keep it from curling up. He cooked Robert’s hash browns extra crispy. The wheat toast was toasted a golden brown with just the right amount of butter.

He put Robert’s order in front of him and mine in front of me. Everything was cooked to perfection. My bubble was broken when the food came. I was no longer in my state of total observation.

After our meal, we looked for an opportunity to get the cook’s attention. When he finally looked our way, we thanked him and told him how perfectly the meal was cooked. He said, “Thank you,” and made eye contact with stunning, blue eyes.

I was emotional throughout the meal. Robert picked up on it and asked if I was okay. I said, “Yes.” If I had said, “No,” I’m not sure I could have made it through eating my breakfast!

When we got to the car, I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer and couldn’t hold back my tears. It wasn’t sadness I was feeling or even joy. It was a feeling of love. In that diner I felt a spiritual connection. I experienced physically what I had just read about in regards to harmony and wholeness.

There was only one other time in my life that I had a spiritual/physical experience which I share in my book God Notes – Daily Doses of Divine Encouragement. 

I have heard it said that we are spiritual beings having a human experience and I believe that is true. The word (and goal) that Robert always says that I am seeking is flow, being in the spiritual flow, letting go and letting God to carry me along in that river of trust.

Let me add these words about us being connected from the Apostle Paul who wrote the following in 1 Corinthians 12:13 and 14:

For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves, or free – and we were made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

And these words from Jesus on the greatest commandment from Matthew 22:37-39:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

We didn’t go to our actual church that Sunday. Instead, we attended church at Spencer’s Grill. The sermon was that we are all connected and where there is love, there is harmony. May you experience this spirit of love and connection. If you have experienced a connection story, I’d love for you to write about it in the comment section.

Until next time…..

Peace,

Jackie Trottmann

Do you feel connected to God, or do you think that God is judging your every action. That’s how I used to feel. All that has changed. I share about that in an eBook and audio book that you can download for free at the moment called Bringing God’s View Into Focus to Live Life with Joy and Flow.

Bringing God's View Into Focus to Live with Joy and Flow