Elvis loves to have his chin scratched, and he had a good afternoon. I brought him an apple, Annie scratched his chin as we dumped a round bale in the feeder

December 4, 2008 – Had a great dinner with Steve McLean, the pastor of the Argyle United Presbyterian Church, and a great friend. Steve has taught me many things about faith and the spiritual life, including how to pray. We had dinner, Steve and I, and his wife Kim and daughter Liz. We also hung around with Mongo, the Spiritual Dog.
  We talked about a lot of things, including the country’s economic woes, and people’s great anxiety, and Steve agrees with Jim from Glens Falls Toyota that we need to change the narrative in the country. We tend to value too many of the wrong things, and then live in fear of losing them, he said. Steve says that people don’t want to let any notion of God into their lives because then they have to change the way they live.
  We prayed together, then walked over to the church, where the Christmas Tree had just arrived and was being unloaded. Nice to see. I hope to hear Steve preach on Christmas Day.
  I told Steve I was eager to think about living more simply, and he thought I was discovering what was important. He asked me why I was changing, and I said it was because I wanted to, and was working hard at it.
  I wrote earlier today that I was reconsidering the farm, and how much I care about it, and I told him that my gassing on had sparked a storm of advice,  concern and questions – was I depressed? Suffering writer’s block? Sick? Unhappy?
  It seems that for much of my adult life notions of change are greeted with concern and alarm. I don’t think anyone in my life thought I was anything but stark raving mad when I bought the farm.
  When men change, it is often suggested that they are having a mid-life crisis, or some other kind of crisis. Why else change?
  I feel differently about change than many people. If it is considered, and not out of fear or reflex, or harmful to people, it can be about growing, learning and living your life. I don’t think I can sit on life like a hen on an egg, waiting for it to hatch. Crisis and mystery are always just around the corner.