"We all have some measure of hope. We can't survive without it. And yet the uncertainty of our hope may cause us to hedge our bets. There's an old English proverb from the 1800s that has endured until today: "Hope for the best, but plan for the worst." It's a common philosophy for life that longs for something positive in the future, but operates under the assumption that the realities of life are more likely." (excerpt)HOPE as a way of life offers practical encouragement for those whose "hope reserves" are running low. But it also invites us to consider the source of our hope. What are we counting on to be true in the future in order have confidence in the present? The answer to that question is vital.