Imagine Luke Skywalker before he met Obi-wan Kenobi, Frodo Baggins before Bilbo gave him the one ring, Eragon before he found the dragon egg, or choose one of your favorite characters. At the beginning of their stories, how would you describe them? Naive. Immature. Green. Preoccupied. Unprepared. Unaware. This is the image of every man just before he hears the words, “Honey, I’m pregnant.” He is about to become a father. The trumpet call of adventure sounds different than he thought it would. The scene doesn’t feel right. There is no dramatic music. No epic backdrop. No old, wise wizard. The unprepared protagonist is probably standing beside his wife, in the bathroom, peering down at a positive pregnancy test. Checking. Double-checking. Looking at the box and checking again.
The call to adventure has been given, but it doesn’t match his expectations. So much so, that he might miss it altogether. Many men do. If he is anything like Luke, Frodo, or Eragon, then he is clueless. He is about to embark on a quest filled with danger and many opportunities for valor. The moment his wife says, “Honey, I’m pregnant,” is a man’s first step into the unknown. The greatest challenge of his life.
Whether or not he answers the call to fatherhood with honor and wisdom doesn’t change the facts. His life just changed forever, and he is completely unprepared.
