Theory-U & the Cross

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The reflective and discursive book, Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future by Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski and Betty Sue Flowers invites readers into the exploration and development of the “U-theory” of learning and change. It basically a theory of transformation, or change theory… I really resonate with their articulation of it and I am seeing all kinds of links to spiritual and mystical traditions.

The three basic aspects of U-theory are:

1. Sensing

Sensing: “Observe”, is a key word for the authors; they stress that the person(s) in this place have a growing awareness that something is not quite right. There is a sense that there is more than what they have currently known or experienced. This is a somewhat deconstructive process. An awakening to the possibility of greater “oneness with the world.” This is a downward move as it begins to strip away what has been “known”; the previously unquestionable are beginning to be questioned; the fundamentals are seen with a fresh lens.

2. Presencing

Presencing: Or pre-sensing is a liminal space of chaos, marked by uncertainty and the choice between running back to what has been known or sitting with the uncertainty, retreating to reflect on what might be. “Is there an invitation held within the downward move of the ‘U’?” The authors suggest that the bottom of the ‘U’ is neither to be rushed through nor avoided but fully engaged.

3. Realizing

Realizing: The upward swing of the ‘U’ involves bringing something new into reality. The authors suggest that this process may be a relatively swift process and stands in direct relation to the “sitting with the chaos” of the bottom of the ‘U’. They use the example of a Japanese painter, who might sit and stare/study/become one with a mountain for a week and when they “see” the artist swiftly paints. Something new is born – is reconstructed – thus right side of the ‘U’ cannot be the same as the ‘left’ side of the ‘U’.

The theory is simple and connects with many other theories. Most narratives reflect this pattern:

• beginning – middle – end,
• naivety – adolescence – maturity,
• thesis – antithesis – synthesis,
• orientation – disorientation – reorientation,
• faith – hope – love,
• creation – fall – redemption, etc.

One of the things that I couldn’t help but reflect on as I read this was that often evangelicals have presented the good news of Christ as a way of bridging the chaos gap. The illustration is meant to convey that Jesus Christ is the relational link connecting humanity with God yet often this illustration has given the impression that Christianity is the(a) way to avoid chaos, pain or uncertainty.

It seems to me that we are in a better place theologically if we move the Cross to the bottom of that gully. Thus God meets us in our confusion, our pain and our lostness. In the gully we see God’s relational movement toward humanity in the incarnation (God with humanity/creation) for the sake of reconciliation (humanity/creation with God).

In the chaos is where Christ is found. God, incarnate – present with humanity – in Jesus Christ is found (sensed) in the margins, in the doubt, in the uncertainty, in the gray and confusion of life. And living with Christ in those uncertain places seems to foster wholeness which can swiftly live into and realize a new reality as called upon.

Peace, dwight