How Guideposts Readers Can Spread the Love

If you don’t save your issues of the magazine, consider doing this.

Edward and Gracie

This morning was surprisingly cool for early August in the Berkshires, ideal for a hike in the hills before the workday began. I leashed up Gracie, filled our water bottle and headed for the nearby Appalachian Trail, hiking north towards Benedict Pond and Beartown State Forest.

Leashed because I don’t trust her. Not that she’ll run off but that she’ll find mud. I made that mistake last week and look what happened. (See Exhibit 1, right.) I had to take the rest of the day off just to get her clean. It wasn’t going to happen again. 

The first mile or so is a slog, equivalent to climbing 50 flights of stairs according to my iPhone. Then the trail flattens out as it winds through the forest and runs along a farmer’s field. The cows weren’t out this morning for Gracie to bark hello to. We pressed on. We hit a patch where the air was scented by wildflowers and the birds were in full song. Yes, a God-given morning for sure.

Finally, we came to a section that had been washed out by last night’s thunderstorms. Mud. Stinky mud. Gracie stared longingly. “We’re turning around,” I said. I had to induce her with bits of dried bison treats. 

On the way down we passed a young couple huffing and puffing their way up, loaded down with camping gear. I nodded. “You only have about a half mile to go,” I said. A second later the man turned around.

“Hey,” he said. “Are you that guy?” 

I stopped. “What guy would that be?” 

“You know, the guy in that little magazine.”  

I’m rarely recognized, especially in the East, so this was a shock.

“You mean Guideposts?” I said.

“Yeah,” the woman said. “I recognize your dog. You’re even prettier in person!” (This was addressed to Gracie, not me.)

“You read the magazine?” 

“Last night we pitched our tent on a platform at the shelter on East Mountain,” the woman said. 

“I know it,” I said. 

“Someone left some magazines in the hut, and we grabbed a couple to read in our tent. It was raining.”

“We’re not churchgoers or anything like that,” the man added, “but we enjoyed some of the stories.”

I smiled. “I always ask if there was one you especially liked,” I said. 

“Yes,” said the woman. “The one by Michelle Williams about her depression. My sister has depression. I have that issue in my pack to give to her.”

“That’s great. You can always send her a link to the story from our site.”

“Maybe I’ll do that. Coverage isn’t great out here, though.”

With that they were on their way. “Watch out for the mud!” I called.  

I imagine a lot of you are vacationing this month and bringing your Guideposts along. I know some readers like to save their issues but if you’re not one, why not leave your magazine behind? Maybe whoever picks it up might not be a churchgoer or anything like that but they may enjoy the stories. And that’s a start. 

Do you leave your Guideposts where others can read them? Let me know by emailing me here. Safe travels!

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