The Franciscan Desert Pack

About the Book

Many people have gone into the desert. Some have come out. Others have stayed because they sought the desert’s solitude and nothingness, which put them closer to the eternal being of God. St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony of the Desert lived in desert solitude. Jesus sought the desert as a place of prayer. The desert therefore, has not been neutral but rather the very context in which people change and evolve, usually to higher levels of spirituality. The main character, Fritz, in this story, is such a person! He is asked to place his complete trust in God, during World War II, as he leaves the German General Rommel and his tank corps and goes to America to live in Baja, California. He takes with him his Franciscan spirituality, which permeates everything he does. He is not graced by having other people with him, but rather, a pack of German short-haired pointer mixes, which he trains with typical Rommel-like precision. One day he meets a different dog—a buff- colored Border Collie named Jack. They are both attracted to each other and their interspecies communication defies imagination. As a “foster son,” Jack is given full rein to direct the pack with Fritz’s permission. What they accomplish is the stuff of legend, bordering on myth.

About the Author

Mr. Sizemore speaks from experience. He is a 1964 graduate of Providence College and has attained three Master Degrees (Education, Sociology and Counseling) . He has been an educator for 52-years and is currently an adjunct professor in sociology. In addition, he has been a psychological therapist for 30 years and a spiritual director for ten years. He is a graduate of the Famous Writers School in Westport, Ct. and has completed the initial program for Toastmasters (public speaking). His spirituality extends to the fact that he is a Secular Franciscan (Third Order) in the Catholic Church. He resides with his wife, Barbara Sizemore, M.S.W. This book is the second in a planned trilogy. The first book is entitled “For Douglas, A Final Word on the Korean War. Tony Daldo, in each book, takes the reader through many adventures. Mr. Sizemore is available for public speaking engagements regarding his writing. He may be reached by e-mail at rsizemore2@comcast.net.