“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6).

Mud races and the like can be good for relationships – for bonding of existing friendships; for creating new ones.  But mud doesn’t sharpen iron.  Iron sharpens iron.  Resistance builds strength.  Many businesses go under because the boss is surrounded by people who won’t tell the him the bad news.  Some because he doesn’t want to hear it; some because they think he doesn’t want to hear it.  Even pastors need friends who will ask them the tough questions.  That’s why men need hard conversation sometimes.  A knife gets keener when it’s pressed on a sharpening wheel.  Just make sure the sparks don’t burn the house.