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Good morning. President-elect Donald Trump is auditioning for roles in his White House and a surprise contender for secretary of state is Mitt Romney. During the election these two men were bitter enemies. Romney called Trump a “phony” and a “fraud”. Trump said Romney was a “choker” who “walks like a penguin.” And yet on Tuesday night the rivals were photographed having dinner together. Mitt Romney appeared a little sheepish; Donald Trump grinned with glee. Critics called the image “a deal with the devil.” Having just returned from reporting on America’s brutal presidential election, I have a slightly different perspective. I think the photo represents an admirable willingness to swallow one’s pride. In fact, I’d call it an Advent miracle. The meaning of Advent, which for many people begins today, tends to get forgotten. It’s a time of preparation, of putting the past year in perspective and getting ready for Christmas. By coincidence, a president-elect traditionally sets Christmas Eve as the deadline for submitting his cabinet. And this presidential “transition” marks the evolution from a period of campaigning to one of governing. You could look at the photo of Mitt Romney and Donald Trump and be cynical. Romney just wants a job, you might think; Trump enjoys humiliating his foes. After all they’ve said about each other, how can they pretend to be friends? Well, the answer is that they believe they have to. Donald Trump needs America’s biggest talents on his team, and that includes Mitt Romney. Romney, who is a committed Mormon, is a deeply ethical man who has to struggle through a dilemma. Would it compromise his personal integrity to work with Trump, a man about whom he thinks so little? Or would it be an act of pride to walk away from him? Which is worse? Compromise or pride? If I was faced with this situation my instinct would be to turn to the bible, where there’s mixed advice on compromise. In short, it depends on what the compromise involves and what you hope to get out of it. There is greater clarity, however, on the damage done by pride. Pride proceeds destruction; a haughty spirit comes before a fall. Pride also encourages us to value something that really doesn’t matter at all: our outward image. Yes, Mitt Romney looks embarrassed in his photograph with Donald Trump. But so what? My year, like America’s has not always been pretty. I’ve not always looked my best, because I’ve not always behaved my best. In Advent, I tell myself, I have to cast aside my pride and say sorry to those I’ve hurt and pick up the phone to those I’ve forgotten. Christmas is coming. It’s time to rebuild and renew.