Have you ever heard about how women during the final weeks of their pregnancy begin what is referred to as ‘nesting’? Pretty much they go into overdrive with cleaning, decorating, moving, preparing, sterilizing… you get the idea. What you don’t hear about is how contagious this is for the baby’s daddy.
I’ve been doing an abundant amount of work in my yard the past few weeks. I’ve expanded my vegetable garden, added a fruit patch (blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries), planted a small rose garden, and last week I planted three fruit trees (fuji and golden delicious apples, and a peach) and planted new grass. I’m not sure my motive for planting these three fruit trees, but with the end of the pregnancy quickly approaching, I had to get it done as soon as possible, because any day now … this baby will come. The anticipation of this child is akin to the anticipation of the coming of the Son of Man.
What does all this have to do with Martin Luther? There is a legend about Martin Luther concerning the eschaton (last days) and planting a tree. When asked what he would do if the world would end tomorrow, Luther responded, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Before my old patterns of existence dissolve into a fresh, new reconfiguration as a father, I will join in with the legendary Luther and plant my trees with anticipation and longing.
