J Douglas BarryHaving felt a call to follow Christ at an early age, it took many years of searching on my part that eventually led to a life of contemplation and continuous prayer. I spent time in the US Marine Corps, graduated from Florida State University with a ajor in Philosophy, and followed this with years of trying to help poor African Americans in Florida. This led to a year at the Maryknoll Seminary in Massachusetts. But still, this was not the Lord was calling me to. I then spent five years working with profoundly, mentally challenged adults. During this time, I went on a retreat with the Carthuson Monks in Vermont. I really loved the week of solitude, contemplation, prayer, and fasting. Since then, I have made numerous retreats with the Trappist Monks, primarily in Spencer, Massachusetts, at St. Joseph Abbey. In 1993, while at a Catholic Mass, I had a profound feeling to write about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. For the past twenty-two years, I've worked on my manuscript, Reflections, and tried to find a publisher. I am seventy-one years of age, living in Andover northeast of Boston Massachusetts. I have three sisters, four nephews, one niece, and two Cambodian godchildren who are greatly loved and to whom this work is dedicated. Read More Read Less