The Honor Competition

  Have you ever considered this command? 'Outdo one another in showing honor.' (10) It is one of a series of commands in Romans 12; and a bit later in the chapter comes this, 'Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.' (17) And, in the next chapter, concerning the governing authorities, it is written that Christ's followers are to give 'honor to whom honor is owed.' (13:7) Finally, Romans 16:1-2 gives the receivers of this letter of Paul's to put this into practice: 'welcome [Phoebe] in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints.'

  How can we put this command into action in our own lives? How do we excel in honoring those around us? This is Gospel inversion, competition turned on its head: compete to make someone else the honored one; try to be the best at putting everyone else's advancement ahead of your own.

(cf: 2 Cor 8:21; Ps 15:4)

An example of giving a teammate honor:

Or, another example that I couldn't embed.

Trouble: the source of literature and song

Why and when are the beauties of culture and land preserved in writing  and legend?

"But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while they endure for eyes to see, are their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song."

- The Silmarillion, "Of the Sindar." Tolkien