Better Than We Believed

Better Than We Believed: How to Apply the Vision That is Faith to the Struggle That is Life is a new book by Robert Cormier.

I have never heard of this author before, but the title is great.

Especially the subtitle.

I’ve learned that the longer you live, the greater your struggle with doubt and faith.

Perhaps because life throws more curve balls at you.

Perhaps because your theology that made so much sense doesn’t seem to fit your experience the longer you live and observe life.

Perhaps it’s many different reasons, but this is a book that I would have felt no need to read in my 20s.

Especially in that the person doing much of the talking is a Catholic priest.

Today, however, it holds interest to me and I don’t mind learning from Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox or anyone else, especially if they believe that Jesus of Nazareth is this world’s true Lord.

We can learn from others, period.

The book is broken up into short stories. I love short. I love short stories.

Each story is of a person who is struggling with an issue. Here are just some examples:

MARK, who struggles with anger

IRENE, who battles stress

HENRY, who is consumed by hatred

GLORIA, who has been betrayed

BRIAN, who suffers depression

MARY, who feels trapped by her duty to a loved one

JOY, who can’t get over a loved one’s death, and

JAMES, who knows that he is dying

After you read these stories, the author answers the problems through the mouth of a priest.

I found the answers to be mature, wise, and grounded in Scripture and experience.

The line, “Faith: we have it backwards” I found particularly interesting. The book expands the phrase.

You’ll no doubt identify with one of these characters, so the input and feedback given will be a direct answer to some of your struggles.

The book is one of the easiest to read volumes I’ve come across in a long time.

Even if you are not Catholic, you can still benefit from this book.