Hope is to the human spirit what breath is to the physical body--the very fuel that animates our being. So says best-selling author John Claypool. But with hopefulness comes the possibility of disappointment. How can we hope and yet be realistic about what we hope for? What is a hope that doesn't disappoint? In his inimitable pastoral and gentle way, Claypool explores biblically based avenues to hopefulness. Beginning with what we can and cannot know of God's promises, he discusses the value of humility in the face of the Great Mystery that is God. Claypool then examines what we can expect by letting God be God, and he looks at the place of forgiveness and second chances in seeking hope. His conclusion addresses the greatest hope, that of the life to come beyond the grave. This very personal book, written without theological jargon, will be a welcome companion to anyone who is struggling with disappointment, fear, or loss.

John R. Claypool was a pastor, preacher, author, and theologian. He was initially ordained as a Southern Baptist and pastored for thirty yers in that denomination. He became an Episcopal priest in 1986 and served as rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama, until he retired from full-time parish ministry in 2000. He then taught preaching at the McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.

Known for his catchphrases--"Life is a gift"; "Despair is presumptuous"--Claypool was even more regarded for his ability to live with others in their shared sorrow and pain. "If we are willing," he wrote, "the experience of grief can deepen and widen our ability to participate in life." Though he died in 2005, his words continue to provide hope and comfort.