The Madeline Intervention

Cathedral of the Madeline SLC, Utah

I had lost my job. It was a small engineering office, and it was closing. My first and only pink slip.

The unemployment rate was quickly approaching 10 %, it was the worst economy of my lifetime.

These were the years when job hunting involved pounding the pavement. There was no internet; letters were going unanswered.

I had been at it for many weeks when I was about to give up. I had parked on a street in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Dressed in my best interview suit, briefcase in hand, I started walking. And crying.

I didn’t want to be here anymore. I was depressed and discouraged. I was a few years newlywed, and ready to bail. I was homesick.

Then I saw it. A Catholic Cathedral. Right in the middle of a Mormon city. The Mormon City.

I walked in, sat down and began to pray. Or maybe it was more like meditation. I felt a sort of peace that I’d not experienced in a very long time.

Years before, I’d given up my religion. But I never lost my faith.

I stayed about an hour, I guess. When I left, I was different. There was hope.

Across the street from the church was a building I’d not noticed until that very moment.

IBM.

What did I have to lose? I walked in, filled out an application, talked to a receptionist.

Within the next 2 hours, I was interviewed, tested and offered a job. A new beginning.

As I left the building, I looked back across the street. The sun was setting over the front of that glorious cathedral.

I could only smile.

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