Experiments in truth: living the way you want to

Yesterday I wrote about chapter 11 in Mark Scandrette's book 'Practicing the Way of Jesus' and what they perceive as Jesus' instructions for achieving freedom and peace.

Today is a continuation from that chapter on how they propose working this out. They call it "Experiments in Truth." As they note, we all have things in our lives we wish we could change. There is a disparity in how we want to live and how we actually live.

In the "Experiments in Truth" they invite people to join in groups to address this together. They begin with this provocative question:

"What is one thing you could do over the next forty days that could change your life forever?"

Each person then, through a careful process of discernment, identifies an area where change is needed, and commits to a dramatic shift - something they will stop and something they will start.

This is an intriguing process, and they say of all the learning lab experiments they do, this one has brought about the most dramatic changes in people's lives.

Here is a list of the steps they go through - word for word from the book:

1. The first step to designing an Experiment in Truth is to examine your life. Spend some time in solitude asking God to reveal where transformation is most needed. In what area do you long for healing and greater wholeness? Do you have any longstanding habits or thought patterns you would like to see change? What are the daily choices that distract you from loving God and people?
2. A second step is to explore the pattern and root causes for the issues you've identified. On a piece of paper, briefly describe the issue or pattern. What are the daily choices you make that support this habit or pattern? Are there deeper issues from which this struggle arises? How does the way of Jesus speak to these conditions?
3. A third step is to decide what new practices to adopt in order to address the issues you've identified. If we want to change, we have to risk new ways of being and doing. It might help to ask, If I change what I do in my mind and body (e.g., what I eat, how I spend my time, what media I consume, how I use my money and who I spend my time with), how will it affect my capacity to flow with the Creator's energy and love?
4. Once you've identified what to start and what to stop, a fourth step is to commit to your plan. This is where the ancient wisdom of vows is instructive. I might want to love God and people and feel a strong desire to do so, but without a commitment to specific practices these are just sentiments. A vow or promise translates my good sentiment into tangible actions...
5. A final step is to evaluate your experiment after you've completed it. Were you consistent in following what you set out to do? Did the new action, pattern or discipline you chose create the results and momentum you hoped for? How would you like to make this new practice part of your ongoing rhythm of life?

---

I think this would be an interesting experiment to try. Of course, as with most things like this, the key would be finding a group of people to do it with. At any rate, I'd like to look at it awhile. There are also some helpful resources in the back of the book that I'd like to go over as well. Maybe another time.