J. Barrett Lee lives in western Michigan with his wife and two kids.

Formerly a Presbyterian minister, Barrett is currently a layperson in The Episcopal Church and an oblate novice of St. Gregory’s Abbey, Three Rivers. He has variously worked as a substance abuse counselor, janitor, college professor, and pastor of congregations in New York and Michigan.

Barrett is an avid writer and has been published or interviewed by the Associated Press and featured in Sojourners Magazine, Episcopal Cafe, Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice, Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice, Coming Out Christian, A Good Word, and Baptist News Global.

He is an ENFP on the Meyers-Briggs, a 4 on the Enneagram, and has Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is also an unabashed sci-fi, music, and theology geek. In no particular order, here are some of his areas of excessive interest:

• Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who
• Musical Instruments: Guitar, synthesizer, mandolin, bass
• Jungian psychology
• Benedictine monasticism
• Anglican religious orders
• Contemplative spirituality
• Spiritual direction
• Gregorian chant
• Patristic theology
• Anglicanism
• The Daily Office (a.k.a. Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours)
• Mental health
• Twelve-Step recovery programs
• Favorite music artists: Bruce Cockburn, U2, Pink Floyd, Rich Mullins, James Taylor
• Television

Recommended Reading

• Archbishop Michael Ramsey. The Gospel and the Catholic Church
• Henri J.M. Nouwen. Adam: God’s Beloved
• Jean Vanier. Becoming Human
• Anthony Marett-Crosby (ed.) The Benedictine Handbook
• Bob Ekblad.  Reading the Bible With the Damned
• Dorothy Day.  Selected Writings
• Joan Chittister.  The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century
• Brennan Manning. The Ragamuffin Gospel
• William Stringfellow. An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land
• Thomas Keating. Open Mind, Open Heart
• Thomas Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation