I was going from job interview to job interview but without any firm offers. I thought my teaching resume was quite strong: two years of teaching high school American History, high school football coach, head baseball coach, intramural director, and chess club advisor. A few schools showed interest in hiring me and even took me on a tour of their school complex, but I still had no contract offers. Then out of the blue I got a call to interview at a local Catholic elementary school only a few miles from my house.

I asked the principal how he got my name and he explained one of the principals I had interviewed with, had strongly recommended me. Strange world, they were old college friends and my name came up during their weekly golf outing.

Eagerly I agreed to meet for the interview the following morning. I awoke with a feeling this interview would lead to a teaching contract. My wife laid out my best outfit including a new tie she brought for the interview. After my good luck kiss, I was off to hopefully impress my new boss. I had no problem locating the school. It was right across the street from the best donut shop in Ohio - maybe the nation. As I was about to enter the building; I heard a voice call out "hey young man can you give me a hand?" I glimpsed around to see the voice belonged to an elderly gentleman, who I assumed, was the school's gardener/custodian. He was trying to plant a tree in front of the school but, was struggling to wrestle it into the hole. I didn't know what to do – help him and get all dirty or just ignore him. Luckily as you will find out, I chose to help him. I took off my suit coat, loosened my new tie, and we both began to roll, push, and drag this rather large tree to it's final resting place. When finished, we both sighed a big sigh, and wiped our foreheads; after which, the elderly gentleman confessed "I think the next time I'll get a smaller tree." We both laughed and as he shook my hand he said "thanks young man for lending me a helping hand."

After brushing off as much dirt as I could, I entered the school and to my good fortune, I spied a restroom, offering me a chance to clean up and make myself as presentable as possible. But just my luck, it was marked "Sorry Out of Order!"

So with much trepidation, I made my way to the principal office; knocked on his door; and was invited in for my interview. As I introduced myself I held out my hand, which as you can imagine, was still quite dirty. After shaking hands, the principal gave me a quick once over before asking me to sit down. Right then and there I knew I didn't have much hope of getting this teaching job,- not the way I looked!

Surprisingly the interview went very well, and as our conversation was wrapping up; in walks, without an excuse me, or sorry to interrupt, was the elderly gentleman I had helped with the tree. He told the principal "hire him he'll be a good teacher for our children." The principal stood and said "Yes Father!" As it turns out the old gentleman was the church's pastor and resident gardener. The principal said "Jim, you're hired!" And that's how I got my job which I would hold for 39 years.

"God works in mysterious ways"

Once or twice each year the pastor would weave our chance encounter into one of his homilies (sermons) "on lending a helping hand to those in need." He never used our names but he would always look over at me and smile.