We humans are storytelling creatures and story-living beings. As we attempt to understand, we do not see isolated, disconnected events. Rather, we perceive events that somehow cohere in a story. It is a story that is still in process; the story is not finished. The story is moving toward some goal, some climax, some conclusion that is im­ portant, significant, and hopeful. The future tense is important to us. Whatever we have known in the past and whatever we are experienc­ ing in the present, there is also anticipation o f that which will be. This expectation of a better future is described in the single word “hope.”