Frank Flacy
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This is a book about hope. What hope is and how we get it and
use it. This book is intended for all readers. It is a must read for
those who already have a great deal of hope (a reminder and
refresher) as well as for those who have little or no hope. Hope
is the cornerstone of a healthy life. A bedrock issue for all
humans, and a basic need for living and for healthy relationship.
All forms of counseling are about giving clients hope, because
without hope people have no inspiration or reason to take risks
and change. No matter what, a counselor must give their
patients hope. Hope is a special kind of ingredient that is needed
by all peoples everywhere. Hope is what helps make us human.
It is a special part of us that keeps us going through thick and
thin. Hope keeps us believing in God, in ourselves, and in the
basic goodness of the human race, even when we are being
exposed to the bad side of people and life, and even when bad
and unfair things are happening to us. Hope makes sense out of
nonsense and gives us a reason when there is no reason.
Frank Flacy has authored nine other books with 1stBooks.
He has also written hundreds of articles. He has six college
degrees, including a Ph.D. He is a former newspaper,
minister, deputy sheriff, and is a counselor and adjunct
college instructor. He brings a wide range of education and
experience to his writings. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.
As I write this book, I am battling with colon cancer. This has
been a four-year struggle, and I seem to be locked in a life or
death battle with a powerful enemy. I have had two surgeries; I
have taken chemotherapy and radiation, only to I have recently
completed another six months of chemotherapy. It has made me
very sick and I have suffered many side effects from this
chemotherapy, which is really poison. It did not work, either.
My cancer has come back again and seems to be spreading. Yet,
I still have hope. I have this hope whether I win this battle or
not.
Therefore, this is not a book written by someone who has no
problems. It is not a book written by a person who is feeling
great with few cares in the world. I do not even know how long
I will live, if this cancer will kill me, or if I will kill it. This book
was not therefore written from an "ivory tower" perspective of
removed intellectualism. Someone who has hope, not because of
his circumstances, but in spite of them, wrote this book from the
"trenches." I have "been there and done that."
As someone who grew up not believing in God, I can easily see
how God can be of no importance to a person, and why they
would look for answers in the here and now, in "real" things that
can be seen and touched. However, I know now that I was never
at peace when I did not believe in God and I did not care about
God and eternal matters, although I did not understand all of this
at the time. I just woke up and lived for today, as if there was no
eternity. Due to youth and health, I paid no attention to the fact
that one day I might get sick and die. Then what?
My hope, as such, was mostly based in me, in my health, and in
my abilities. I gave very little thought about much else. I have
dealt with the public in various capacities for many years. I am
now a counselor, and I see so many people who have no hope at
all or no hope in lasting things. This book was written to
everyone who has no real or deep, lasting hope, and it was also
written to those with a great deal of hope as an encouragement to
keep up the good work. May you find strength and peace, and
may your hope be strong. May this book bless you along that
journey.
Frank Flacy
