Have lost her name in the meandering stream of time, but still remember vividly the day we met, the conversation we had, and the significant impact that encounter had on me and my life’s exploration here in Pittsburgh and beyond.
As I was waiting in the Panera Bread store for a meeting with a non-profit client to work on several technological projects, I noticed the lady sitting next to me would sometime sit down reading the book in front of her, recite happily with a muted voice yet faithful tone, and some other time stand up walking around the front lobby to greet people, and ask how their days were going, full of compassion and sincere care. I thought she must be the owner of the restaurant, or at least come here quite often that she knows everybody by their first name. …...Before I had enough time to build my curiosity upto the point that I had to learn about her and ask why she was doing what she was doing as if time was of no concern in her world, my meeting partners arrived. During the meeting, I was immersed into the conversation with my client and didn’t notice the Lady’s whereabouts.
But I knew I felt so very happy that she was still sitting there reading when the meeting was finished. So I walked to her. Her ever-sensitive nature picked up my approaching and she looked at me so peacefully and knowingly. So I sat down in front of her and asked the question “Madam, I apologize if I interrupted you, but you look so fulfilled and happy and your compassion towards people here is quite outstanding. May I know if you are the owner of this place?” She smiled and said, “Thanks for your complimentary, but I am just here praying. Often, I come here, slow down, read my bible, and pray.”
…..
“That is very spiritual and wise of you. Often time, we get way too busy than we really should be and forget to pause, reflect, and observe. I wish to thank you for reminding me of the importance and profoundness in rest and taking no action.”
……
“God Bless you and you will be in my prayer.”
…….
“It was such a privilege to be in your presence, have a great evening.”
“You too have a great evening.”
Then we parted, and returned to our own trajectory of life’s journey, as if we never crossed path.
It is interesting though even right now when I am writing about this small experience, I am slowing myself down spiritually and physically. I feel a sense of relaxation and tranquility that can support me go on with another couple of hours into the midnight of a regular weekday.
Once I read a quote in a book and it says like this, “We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers.” I was satisfied with my courage to walk into the Panera Lady’s world and ask that mundane question, “Are you the owner of the store?” Yet, her answer made that encounter a significant one, because she reminded me of the meaning of “owning time and space” and the wisdom of being enriched without possession.
If you are a Christian, any where and anytime can be your church, if you are a Muslim, anywhere and anytime can be your mosque, if you are a Judaism, anywhere and anytime can be your synagogue, and if you are a Taoism, anywhere and anytime can be your Daoguan, as long as you free yourself and look outward into life, other people's life, God's life. We are our religion and we carry our church wherever and whenever.
In the end, I hope to use Michael Jackson’s poem to end this quite profound experience with my Panera Lady.
“I am the thinker, the thinking, the thought
I am the seeker, the seeking, the sought
I am the dewdrop, the sunshine, the storm
I am the phenomenon, the field, the form
I am the desert, the ocean, the sky
I am the Primeval Self
In you and I”
Beer winning trivia @ Panera Bread
1. The word Church derives from the Greek ekklesia, meaning the called-out ones. Its original meaning is to refer to the body of believers.
2. Panera Bread is a chain of bakery-cafe fast casual restaurants in the United States and Canada. Its headquarters are in Sunset Hills, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and operates as Saint Louis Bread Company in the St.Louis metropolitan area. The story of St. Louis Bread started in 1987 when the first location was opened in Kirkwood Missouri.In May 1999, to expand Panera Bread into a national restaurant. In its headquarters city of St. Louis, Panera Bread still operates under the name St. Louis Bread Company.In a 2008 health magazine study, Panera Bread was judged North America's healthiest in its category.
3. Michael Jackson is awarded by former President Bush SR on May 1st, 1992, as the Ambassador of +Points of Light Foundation, which is the supporting agency of the national +HandsOn Tech Corps program that I am currently working on. In his brief speech, Michael said that,”I believe each person can make a difference in the life of someone in need, that is what a point of light is.”I sure felt that the Panera Lady was the point of light in my life that day we crossed path.
ID@Panera Bread
What’s your Panera Bread story? They do have good soups, those soups that are good for souls. :)
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