Here If You Need Me...a book review

Here If You Need Me a true story by Kate Braestrup

This book was given to me by my wonderfully insightful, compassionate and thoughtful mother-in-law this Christmas.  She is often sharing books with me that she has enjoyed or thinks I will like…and…she is more often than not, quite accurate with her suggestions.  I have to admit that I’m always a bit wary to start a book or see a movie suggested by joan since part of me would rather read or watch something scientific, fictitious, action-packed, thrilling, or silly.  What I mean to say is most of joan’s suggestions affect my heart and make my eyes leak or straight out sob…which is emotionally draining but so good for the soul.  So I usually heave a big sigh right before picking up a book from joan preparing myself for the inevitable, heart-rending, sob fest. 

Here If You Need Me did not disappoint!  I was leaking tears, sobbing, & laughing by the first couple chapters.  I had started reading in bed and Alex turned his light out to go to sleep soon after I began.  I was worried I’d wake him with my sniffling, but I had to keep reading.  I was engrossed with the stories, the questions, search-and-rescue, loss and modern western ways of dealing with it compared to the healing journey of other cultures past and present.

The book is written by a strong woman who tells the story of her journey from an atheistic upbringing to a widowed mother of four young children and the circumstances that lead her to becoming a Chaplain for the Maine Warden Service and a Unitarian Universalist Minister. 

Tough questions about God are addressed, but more importantly, the cultivation of love in a community is analyzed.

This book is a national bestseller and I highly recommend it to everyone.  You only have to value basic human goodness and love to be moved by Kate’s story.


**Does everything relate to running?  I would say…Most definitely!  Some of the Wardens Kate spent time with expressed their lack of religion or attending church and went on to explain how for them, church is walking in the Maine woods, witnessing Spruce Grouse bathing and all the other awe-inspiring flora and fauna of Maine.

I feel similarly when I’m running on the trails, whether alone or with the fellowship of like-minded, good-hearted runners.  I feel so grateful that I am able to witness the beauty of the strong smelling pines, soft dirt and rocky terrain under my feet, the warmth of the suns rays on my limbs, the silhouette of Great Horned Owls silently gliding overhead, the pounding hoof beats of a startled elk, the mysterious howl of coyotes, and knee-high powder snow, hard packed snow, slushy snow, snowy dirt, dirty snow, crunching under my feet.  I feel alive with my heart beating strong and my body being bent to my will.  I can’t imagine a better place to relish being alive, thinking deep thoughts or none at all, to meditate on the rhythm of my footfalls or the pattern of my breathing, to release daily stresses and fears, to just be one with nature, my surroundings and fellow running enthusiasts.