It is said that one can live 30 days without solid food, 3 days without water, 3 minutes without oxygen but only 3 seconds without hope.

Hope. It is the motivating force behind all actions -- good or evil. Hope, simply defined, is the expectation of a certain end. The reason a person is inspired to perform a certain act is because he or she expects a particular desired result. As with everything, hope can be corrupted but we will concern ourselves with the positive aspects of hope. Therefore in your pursuit of a good education, the right career, the cutest car, the loveliest house and the perfect mate, hope must spring eternally and blossom continually.

You must hold onto it for dear life, never letting go, because, yes, your life depends upon it. It must be the fulcrum of your dreams, the under-girding of your goals and the foundation of your objectives. Guard her closely in your breast and cherish her gently in your soul. Inhale deeply and let the fragrance of her perfume overwhelm your senses. Then, she will transport you over the biggest hurdle of despair and the widest valley of desperation.

She will never forsake you if you do right and not abandon her. She will ensure that you complete the journey, accomplish the task, that you will not relent, falter, turn back, give up or fail. You may misstep, take a left turn or travel the wrong road, but if hope is a constant companion and guide there is always a chance of a better tomorrow. She has existed from the beginning of time and will be here at the end as an integral part of the "big 3" of life: faith, hope and love.

Some years ago my daughter participated in a national story telling competition. I crafted a story for her which underscores all I've written. It was titled, "The Secret Of Hope."

A long, long time ago, in the golden age everywhere was joy and happiness. It was always springtime and the whole earth was covered in flowers and only gentle breezes blew to set the flowers dancing. Even the bees did not store up honey because honey fell in tiny droplets from the trees. Lions and lambs, tigers and deer strolled side by side without fear. In the very center of this worldly paradise, there existed a special place: a secret garden. It was occupied by two blessed people: a man and a woman called Alpha and Omega. They were charged with overseeing and managing this slice of heaven. In short, it was a wonderful miraculous place and existence.

But, just outside the garden imprisoned in a cage were three dastardly creatures. Their names were Laziness , Greed and Discord. The guards who kept watch over the creatures were called Restraint and Discipline. As fate would have it, one day, for some unexplained reason,Restraint became lax while Discipline was nowhere to be found. The cage door was left unlocked. Discord, the most clever and sinister of the evil triad, seized the opportunity and escaped before the error was discovered and corrected. He somehow managed to find a way to enter the secret garden. He hid behind a massive imposing oak.

Now, this was no ordinary tree. It had special properties and its fruit - once eaten - revealed the knowledge of good and evil. The great Justice, creator and sustainer of this idyllic environment had specifically instructed Alpha and Omega not to eat of that tree. As luck would have it, Omega, with Alpha in tow, skipped by on her way to pick blueberries. Discord slyly engaged her in a conversation. "Did the great Justice really meant for you not to eat of this tree?" he asked.

"He was adamant, we are not supposed to eat or touch this tree, or we'll die," she replied.

"You will not surely die. The great Justice knows that if you eat of this tree you will be as wise as he is," the creature informed her with a cherubic look on his face. There was a long pause then. With temptation apparently too much, Omega gingerly put forth her hand, plucked a fruit, tasted it and gave a piece to her husband.

In an instant, within the twinkling of an eye, everything changed. The gentle rivers that flowed through the garden became wild and untamed. Lions and lambs, deer and tigers became mortal enemies. Summers turned hot and humid, while winters were cold and harsh. Honey no longer dripped from the trees, flowers began to die, the grass turned brown and the trees lost their leaves.

Immediately aware of this drastic turn of events, the great Justice came down and evicted them all out of the garden. He placed an eternal ring of fire around it so no one could ever enter in without his permission.

Alpha and Omega trudged out of that once sacred now marred place hand in hand, heads hanging low and shoulders sagging. The sight was too much for three little sisters who were always in the presence of the great Justice. They were named Hope, Mercy and Forgiveness.

Mercy pleaded and begged for pity on behalf of the distraught couple. Justice would not relent. Nevertheless, he sent Hope to comfort and reassure the dejected pair. Hope caught up with them and whispered something into their ears. Suddenly their faces brightened, their steps became brisker, and their shoulders sagged a little less. It was a secret, it was a secret that all great men and women over the centuries have entertained and nourished deep within their breasts.

Hope said, "If you work hard, remain faithful and true, the angel of hope will always be at your side and her twin sisters mercy and forgiveness will never be far behind."

Therefore, as you blaze your trail in life and venture into the vast unknown, it is my prayer that you to keep the secret of hope alive as the anchor of your soul.

V. Knowles is a husband and father with an interest in penning issues that serve to uplift mankind. He melds his love for Classic literature, The Bible and pop culture - as sordid as it may be - into highly relatable columns of truth, faith and justice. Hence the name: Just Thinking. If he's not buried in a book or penning his next column, you may find him pinned to his sectional watching a good old Country and Western flick.