Thursday, May 23, 2013

Reflections: Experimenting



“Science, my boy, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.”  Jules Verne

As I mentioned before, I am in transition, which scares me.  If I were a part of a science project, my preference would be to team up with the Control group, the folks who are normal and are given the placebo, the tools, medicine, or standards known to work with no affect.  The Control group is known for its consistency and for being the standard by which one compares the new, incoming work. The Control group is comfortable, something to which one could compare things. It is the solid rock and foundation and perhaps, to some degree, the box that has been shaped because off the Control’s patterns and habits.  The Control does evolve but only to assimilate characteristics into the group.  The Control is certainly a great place to be.

More and more often, though, I find myself voluntold to be a member of the Experimental Group.  The Experimental group tries the new program, food or project. The Experimental group is the risk taker; while it has a strong foundation, same as the Control, it has an inconsistent future because the outcome is not yet written.  The Experimental group is restless and eagerly searching for a new way to create, move, shape and exist when outside of what it comfortable. The Experimental group does not do well with settling for what is already known, but charts out a new course and learns how to evolve.  I often fight with being a member of the Experimental because there is just too much uncertainty while knowing I do not belong in the Control.

Life is really about being in the Experimental Group at some point. We are here to live a full life and make it a little better for those coming after us.  Even Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b). There was nothing completely wrong with the way things were, there are just simpler ways of reaching the same goals.   This is not to say that we can never be in the Control Group – we are, after all, molded and shaped by these very persons. We should just be willing to embrace the Experimental trip and follow what we love to improve the quality of the Control.

Consider, this week, being a part of the Experiment and walking the path less traveled.  It just may help you shape the future Control.

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