Exemplum

He did not know why he was reading the pamphlet that was handed to him when he boarded the train. He had often seen people handing out these little booklets to passers-by. The man had even taken a few in the past to be polite, but they were always “filed” in the nearest wastebasket. This one was entitled “The Gospel of John.” He had forgotten to purchase a newspaper to read during the ride home …

…bridge or the hundreds of people on the train would die; he also knew that closing the bridge would mean the sacrifice of his son. The man could read no further. Trembling, he put down the paper, went to the wastebasket, and retrieved the booklet he had so effortlessly tossed into the trash. With tears welling up in his eyes, he again began to read, but this time, the text was more than just words.