Searching For Honesty

As we proceed into Advent with prayer and sacrifice to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus into our hearts ad Christmas, we need to remember that no relationship with God can be solid, unless it is based on honesty.  I present myself as I am, with no false masks or disguises and ask God to accept me as I am.  It is risky, yes, and demands courage, for most of us see ourselves in the dim light of inadequacy, if not failure.  "What would God want with me if he really knew me?" The truth is, he does, and can only relate to the "real me."
A little parable arrived on the internet yesterday and bears retelling to illustrate this point.
A CEO of a large, prosperous company announced his retirement and rather than depend on a search committee to find his successor, he gave a seed to each of his subordinates, told them to plant it, and the next year, show him how they had nurtured and cultivated the seed. Whoever had the best plant would be the next CEO.  Eagerly, the staff took their seeds a planted them in the best potting soil they could find, and watered them diligently day after day.  Soon the buzz in the cubicles was about how well "my plant" was doing.  One man, however, despite all his TLC found nothing growing in his flower pot.  Month after month, nothing, while the others bragged about how well their plants were doing.  Finally, the day of reckoning came, and the man with the plant-less pot only brought it in at the urging of his wife, but stood ashamed in the back of his room because of his apparent failure.  When the CEO came to judge the plants, he called this man with his empty pot to come forward, and declared him the next CEO.  Much to his amazement the man asked WHY ME?  The CEO explained that he had boiled all the seeds before giving them out, so that there was no way they could grow.  All the staff had cheated by planting another seed and thus revealed their dishonesty.  He went on to say that only with honesty and the courage to proceed when all appeared to be lost, could the company thrive.  If our Advent is to be fruitful, we need such honesty and courage.
Bro. Rene