Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast." "Where there's life, there's hope." You might have heard of that fellow who decided that his life had no hope. He resolved to end it all by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. A kindhearted policeman saw what was going on and tried to reason with the man but to no avail. Finally, they struck a deal: The policeman would listen to the jumper for five minutes if the jumper would return the favor. For five excruciating minutes the young man recounted a tale of woe that would have torn anyone's heart out.