There must be a better way.

Tolerance for pain may be high, but it is not without limit. Eventually everyone begins to recognize, however dimly, that there must be a better way. As this recognition becomes more firmly established, it becomes a turning point. This ultimately reawakens spiritual vision, simultaneously weakening the investment in physical sight. The alternating investment in the two levels of perception is usually experienced as conflict, which can become very acute. But the outcome is as certain as God. T-2.III.3:5-10

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

This is an extremely important passage in A Course In Miracles and is the basis for how the Course came to be recorded to begin with. Helen and Bill were in constant conflict in their academic department of Medical Psychology at Columbia Hospital. One day Bill said to Helen, “There must be a better way” apparently meaning  a better way for us to work together. Helen agreed with this statement and then Helen began hearing the voice of Jesus saying, “Take this down “ and Helen began taking notes in shorthand of what she was hearing. 

Helen called Bill terrified that she was hallucinating. Bill told Helen that he thought she should listen and take the notes and bring them in the morning early before work and she could dictate her shorthand and he would type it out on the typewriter. This went on for over 5 or 6 years and became known as A Course In Miracles.

The Course teaches that there is a better way and this better way is what the Course teaches. The Course states that it is not the only way or even the best way for everybody but sooner or later, come hell or high water, the lessons it teaches will be learned by humanity.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, in step one, it is suggested that we admit that our lives have become unmanageable. This is known as “step one” work. It is a barrier which many people find unsurmountable until they hit bottom.

In Unitarian Universalism, we join together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning, and what is the motivation to begin this search? It can be curiosity, but often it is an existential crisis. We have hit bottom and want to find a better way.

Today, it is suggested that we acknowledge that there is a better way to live our lives and make a decision to find it.