Albert Einstein was not a big fan of quantum mechanics. In fact, early in the twentieth century, he and his colleagues, Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen, got together and tried to undermine one of its theories with something that is now known as “the EPR experiment.” According to quantum theory, a sub-atomic particle that decays into two particles becomes a set of “twins” spinning in opposite directions—one “up” and the other “down.” Although the two are separate, they still work together as a single unit, and must always balance each other.

So far so good. However, the amazing part is that, according to quantum theory, these two particles will continue working together in a state of “quantum entanglement” regardless of the distance between them. In other words, even if the two are separated by a million light years—one will spin “up” and the other spin “down.”

Einstein and his colleagues felt that this was pure nonsense—in part, because it violated Einstein’s own theory of special relativity. And so, they set out to disprove it by suggesting that it was preposterous to think that two particles on opposite ends of the universe would interact in this fashion. Einstein scoffed that it was “spooky action at a distance”—and argued that changing the spin of one of the particles would have no effect on the other.

Unfortunately, subsequent experiments ended up proving him wrong. Startling as it may sound, physicists now believe that if you were to reverse the spin of one of the particles, its twin particles would also change—even if they were located at opposite ends of the cosmos. Researchers aren’t quite sure why this is the case, but they are more and more convinced that there appears to be some kind of invisible web that connects the entire universe.

Of course, the Bible has been trying to tell us this all along. Consider Paul’s analogy of the church as Christ’s body. As different as we are and as many varied functions as we serve, we are far more than just a collection of individual parts. We may act that way sometimes—with the left side pulling against the right, and the feet refusing to step forward until the hands have apologized. But there are other times—for example, when we pray together, or worship together, or commune together—that we realize that we are not just separate people who come together now and then. We are connected one to another … and always will be … no matter how great the distance between us.